136 



DICKSON ON THE 



few days since at an agricultural meeting in England, 

 by one of my patrons, T. H. S. Sotheron, Esq., M.P. for 

 North Wilts — a gentleman who, whether as A landlord 

 OR AN employer, may well be held up as an example to 

 landlords in any country, as he is not the advocate for 

 encouraging men to be at the expense of 'draining farms, 

 levelling bogs and ditches, and improving estates for others, 

 without being certain of repayment, no more than he would 

 be an advocate for them to build houses in this city on 

 the property of others without a lease. 



" Mr. Sotheron said — ' Allow me in the first place, in 

 responding to the toast you have just drank, to refer to the 

 topic (right of the tenant) which has been brought before 

 our notice by a friend occupying the position of a tenant- 

 farmer, and now touched upon by Mr. Long. (Cheers.) A 

 year ago, when the subject was rather more new amongst 

 you, I took the opportunity of stating what were my 

 opinions on the matter then. Since that time a com- 

 mittee was appointed for the purpose of taking evidence 

 on this question. The chairman of that committee was a 

 gentleman well known as a staunch friend to agriculture, 

 and whose name cannot be mentioned in a meeting of 

 agriculturists without that honour being done him to which 

 he is justly entitled— I mean Mr. Pusey. (Applause.) 

 Before that committee a vast amount of important evidence 

 was adduced, and I do hope that those whose minds are 

 riot clearly made up on this question, will take the trouble 

 to read that evidence. The main gist of it is — that it 

 rests with the farmers themselves to secure that (e right" 

 which we all confess they ought to have awarded them.' 

 (Hear.) — [There is not a journal in Ireland but should hold 

 up this worthy man, who spends £52,000 per annum of 

 his income doing good in his county, as an example to 

 the do-nothing owners of property that reside in England, 



