54 The Landed Interest. 



disestablishment of the Church, which possessed 

 upwards of 10,000 small holdings of land, in the 

 benefices situated all over the country. The 

 pre-emption of these was offered to the tenants 

 on terms most favourable to them, both as to 

 price and payment, and nearly two-thirds of the 

 offers were promptly accepted. Again, in 1870, 

 the Irish Land Act contained provisions ex- 

 pressly favouring the system ; but, though great 

 advantages in regard to terms of payment were 

 also offered by that Act, the results hitherto 

 have been comparatively small. The cause of 

 the difference is very plain. In the first case 

 the disposal of the lands was imperative, and did 

 not occasion the subdivision of property ; while 

 the vendors, the Church Commissioners, having 

 no one to consult but themselves, offered these 

 small holdings at low fixed prices without com- 

 petition. In the second case, on the -other hand, 

 it is the duty of the Landed Estates Court to 

 get the best price they can for the landowner, 

 who may very naturally object to allow small 

 portions to be sold here and there out of his 

 estate to suit the convenience of individual 



