IRELAND, 1840-1880. 123 



All the capital of landlord and tenant united, and 

 much more, is wanted to put the land in the con- 

 dition it ought to be in. If permanent improve- 

 ments will pay 5 per cent on the cost, the landlord is 

 well paid. Whereas manuring his farm will almost 

 always pay the tenant 20 per cent, and often much 

 more. The natural and right thing is for the land- 

 lord to do the permanent improvements, charging an 

 extra rent for the outlay, and tenants the manuring. 



It will not have escaped notice that some of the 

 Home Ptule M.P.'s objected to loans to landlords for 

 draining, because it would enable them to charge higher 

 rents for such drained land. A better proof could 

 not be given of the narrow ignorance of such men. 

 As if draining does not benefit all round — landlord, 

 tenant, and labourer — and can't be hindered from 

 doing so ! 



Outlay of capital on the land is the sine quel non 

 of the improvement of Ireland. Wliatever else is 

 done or not done, that must be done, if the country 

 is to be improved. It adds to the wealth of all, and 

 is the surest evidence that a country is emerging from 

 backwardness and poverty. 



There is one strong recommendation of the course 

 I have urged : every step taken in it is so mucli 

 secured for good. Whereas it is always the danger 

 of heroic remedies that they may make tlie last state 

 worse than the first, like that of the man in the 

 Gospels. It wiU, of course, be said I write as a 



