THE RENTED MANOR. 49 



rabbits, they could not expect mo to do so con- 

 tinually, therefore tliey hoped I would not be 

 offended at their askino; mo to sell them rabbits, 

 for, ''at fourtccn-2:ienco a couple, with the skins," 

 they could give a far better dinner of rabbits 

 to their families than they could get for that sum 

 as meat from any butcher. 



Tlie endeavour made at these farmers' clubs, 

 to move the Legislature to interfere between land- 

 lord and tenant with respect to game and rabbits, 

 is part and parcel of the old dodge put in force 

 by Mr. Bright in his abortive attack upon the 

 game laws, Avhen he did all in his power to sow 

 discord between landlord and tenant in the counties 

 to suit his parliamentary party, and to obtain 

 votes for those men who have now ruined Ireland. 

 ^'Tenant right" must, and ever will, be based 

 upon the spontaneous act of the tenant, that is, 

 on his accepting terms offered to him by the pro- 

 prietors of the land, without Avliich acceptance the 

 landlord woidd refuse to let his acres. The would- 

 be tenant can refuse the proffered terms if he 

 likes, and the landlord, unless there is a revolution 

 in England as well as in Ireland, can offer what 

 terms he pleases ; and as Mr. Bright has always 



VOL. II. E 



