THE IRELAND OF TO-DAY. 6i 



compares not unfavourably with that of the 

 residents. The second class is that of large 

 landowners resident in Ireland, who, with a 

 large nominal income, are often anything but 

 rich. To the third class belong local residents, 

 small owners who by their bad economic posi- 

 tion and the curtailment of their rents are 

 obliged to remain continuously in Ireland. A 

 fourth class of owners is formed by the 80,000 

 peasant proprietors created by the Land Acts, 

 who will however have to be discussed in ano- 

 ther connection. 



Irish property has three important character- 

 istics. It is divided property in many cases. 

 The original feoffees set their land under agree- 

 ments of the longest terms, often at a perpetual 

 rent, to a middleman ; they are therefore only 

 rent receivers, whilst the actual rights and func- 

 tions of the property belong to the middleman. 

 Amongst others, Trinity College, the great 

 Protestant University of Ireland, stands in this 

 position. 



The second essential point is that by far the 

 greater number of Irish estates are bound by 

 entails. Each occupier enjoys the property 

 during life, but does not own it. That portion 

 of the estate which goes beyond the usufruct 

 belongs to his sons, or. to such heirs as may be 

 appointed by the family settlements. From this 

 restriction formerly arose the inability to grant 

 leases at long term. It was also impossible to 

 sell the estates, for only the trustees of the heirs, 



