A Digest of the Evidence taken before Select Committees of the two Houses of Parliament, appointed to inquire into the state of Ireland, 1824-1825, etc

Part I

Luke Hansard & Sons, near Lincoln's-Inn Fields, London. A DIGEST OF THE EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE SELECT COMMITTEES OF THE TWO HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT, APPOINTED TO INQUIRE INTO THE STATE OF IRELAND; 1824-1825: WITH NOTES HISTORICAL AND EXPLANATORY, AND A COPIOUS INDEX. BY THE REV. WILLIAM PHELAN, B. D AND THE REV. MORTIMER O'SULLIVAN, A. M. LONDON: PRINTED FOR T. CADELL, STRAND; R. MILLIKEN, DUBLIN; AND W. BLACKWOOD, EDINBURGH. 1826.

Preface

WITHOUT meaning to deprecate fair criticism, the Editors request that their performance will be considered with reference to the purposes which they had in view. They did not propose to them selves, nor do they profess to .give the substance of all the Evidence reported by the Parliamentary Committees ; but have confined themselves to that subject for which the public enquiry was particu larly instituted; namely, the state of Ireland, regarded as a country perpetually harassed by systematic outrage, and by political dissension. The following pages are intended to illustrate the nature and origin of these disorders, and the measures sug gested as remedies for them ; and the Editors con ceive, that, if they have discharged their duty with respect to these important topics, in such a manner as to afford satisfactory information, they may be pardoned for omitting the consideration of, or for briefly noticing, other questions.

VI PltEFACE. The causes to which the Disturbances in Ireland may be traced, are of three kinds — domestic, political, and religious. To the investigation of these causes, the enquiries of the Parliamentary Committees were particularly directed, and the. Editors have had as their object, so to classify, and select and abridge the reports of evidence, as that the general reader might not be deterred from seeking information, and that the more careful enquirer might be assisted in his researches. In that part of the Digest which is occupied with what might be termed the domestic condition of the Irish peasantry (a subject of not much party or political controversy), the evidence is given in an abridged form, reference being made to the authorized reports, and the Editors holding themselves responsible for the fidelity of their abridgements.

In the other parts of the enquiry, where the subjects were more controverted, and where shades of expression were consequently of much importance, it was not thought proper to change the language in which testimony had been delivered ; and in these parts, accordingly, the Editors have confined themselves to the rejection of repe titions.

PREFACE.

. VII With respect to religious matters, the evidence has been regarded in two lights, as illustrated by the circumstances of Ireland, and by the condition and the character of the Irish people; and as illustrated by the principles of that Church, to the structure and influence of which the Parliamentary Committees had directed their attention. The reader who looks for theological discussion of an abstract nature will be disappointed. The Church of Rome is not considered with reference to the purity of its doctrines, but with reference to the manner in which its tenets and discipline are calculated and intended to affect the state. In the first part of the Digest the system of that Church is viewed, principally, as exemplified by its mode of operation; and, in the second part, the evidence of its ministers is considered in connection with authorized formularies of doctrine and discipline, and with information derived from authentic and undisputed historical statements.

In one or two instances it was judged more advisable to re-print short extracts from evidence, than to interrupt an enquiry in the first part of the Digest, by referring readers to the second. The notes extend occasionally to considerable, but, it is hoped, by no

PREFACE.

. means unnecessary length; the documents adduced are of that authentic nature which will entitle them to the appellation of evidence ; and they re late to questions, which, though of great and abiding interest, have for many years been little regarded by the public. Having thus put the reader in possession of their views, the Editors leave their work to speak for itself. CONTENTS TO

PART I. SECTION

I. Chap. I. CONDITION of the peasantry — inadequate employment — excessive rents — too great distance between the chief proprietor and the occupying tenant — middlemen — agents — peasantry grateful and charitable — their habits and condition improving -------p. 1 Chap. II. Proportion of Protestants to Roman Catholics — Census of 1821 — ■ pastoral letter of Dr. Troy — number of Presbyterians.— proportion of children at schools — children of Protestants less numerous than in former years — why — proportion of Protestants who receive the Sacrament in the Church of England congregations in Dublin— collections made at divine service — Protestants, "latent" and " ostensible" — Tables. p. 19. Chap. III. Disturbances — character of — Whiteboyism — Ribbonism — outrages of Banditti — Smugglers — little disturbance where the poor had comforts — witnesses intimidated — approvers murdered — connection with individuals in England — affected by death of the Queen — Pastorini - - - - p. 33 Chap. IV.

Disturbances, cause of — proximate — remote — not religious — state of society— absentees— middlemen — incendiaries, p. X CONTENTS. Chap. V. Party feeling — Orangemen — Defenders, &c. &c. — various denominations of the same animosity — French principles — battle at Diamond point — Defenders violate the truce, &c. &c. p. 62 Chap. VI. Measures for tranquillizing Ireland and improving the condition of the people — Insurrection Act — Constabulary force — petty sessions — Tithe Composition Act — official reports, &c. p. 81

Section II

Chap. I. Roman Catholic Clergy — their education abroad — at home — at college — in schools— while the Stuart family existed — trained in the belief of the " divine right of kings " — now taught more democratic principles - - - p. 1 1 1 Chap. II. conduct during the disturbances — did not excommunicate the insurgents — connected themselves with the poorer classes — accused of conniving at the disturbances by the Dublin Evening Post - - - - - p. 1 28 Chap. Ill Church of Rome in Ireland, character of— denies the right of private judgment— publishes no sufficient formulary of doctrine—Doctor Doyle, denies (in words) the Pope's infallibility, but refers to Melchior Cano, as an authority, who maintains that doctrine in its most objectionable shape — authority of Councils— confusion in Catechisms— Roman Catholic Bishops will not hold themselves responsible for the notes appended to their Bibles— Rhemish Testament— Index Expurgatorius, &cp.

CONTENTS. XI Chap. IV. Influence of Roman Catholic Clergy — how acquired — priests wisely distributed — accommodate themselves to their parishioners—endeavour to obtain a controul over the education of gentry and of the poor — Clongowes — fraternities — effects of confession — absolution — excommunication — pastoral addresses — progress of the power of the Roman Catholic priests --------p. 234

Section III

Chap. I. Civil disabilities affecting Roman Catholics, considered as obstructing the influx into Ireland of British capital — reasonings on the supposition that they occasion disturbances — disabilities affect gentry alone — peasantry only engaged in disturbance — British capital, if not wisely and unostentatiously introduced into Ireland likely to be injurious— Sub-sheriffs, &c. - - - - ' - - p. 316 Chap. II. Penal laws do not affect the administration of justice unfavourably to the Roman Catholics, either in the superior courts, or on circuits, or at sessions p. 364

Section IV

Chap. I. Claims of Roman Catholics — state of the question— arguments in favour of, and against — arguments in favour, arising out of the conduct and professions of the lay Roman Catholics — against, drawn from the tenets and principles of the church to which they belong - - - - p. CONTENTS. Chap. II. Securities proposed— Oaths — state provision for clergy— disfranchisement of .forty-shilling freeholders — objected to oaths, that Doctor Doyle took the eath of allegiance, mentally resolving not to be bound by it, and to the other adjuncts to the relief bill— that their immediate effect would be to increase the power of the church of Rome - - p. 442 Chap. III. Roman Catholic Association in former reigns — advocacy of claims — Treaty of Limerick — numbers and dispositions of Roman Catholics — proceedings respecting Veto — Rheimish Testament — British Critic— Conclusion - - p. LIST OF WITNESSES.

PART I. ABBOTT,

Joseph, Esq. attorney at law, Dublin - p. 322 Armagh, His Grace the Lord Archbishop of, Primate of all Ireland - - - - - - - pp. 17. 96 Astle, Mr. John, residing in Dublin - - - p. 322 Barry, James Redmond, Esq. Roman Catholic magistrate of Ibaroe, and Barryroe, county of Cork, inspector general of fisheries for the province of Munster, pp. 15. 43. 410 Becher, W-. W. Esq. Member of Parliament for Mallow, PP- 39- 84 Bennet, George, Esq. King's counsel - - pp. 34. 83 Blackburne, Francis, Esq. King's counsel - pp. 33. 55. 82 Blacker, Maxwell, Esq. King's counsel - pp. 33.58. 81 Blake, Anthony, Esq. Roman Catholic barrister, chief remembrancer of the Exchequer of Ireland, a commissioner of Education - - pp. 14. 20. 98. 379. 404. 446 Blenkinsop, Mr. Peter ----- p. 218 Bourke, Major General, magistrate in the county of Limerick and city of Limerick - pp. 48. 129 Browne, the Right Hon. Dennis, M.P. for Kilkenny, pp. 138. 239. 457 Browne, Dominic, Esq. M. P. residing in the county of Mayo, pp. 86. 95 Burnett, Rev. John, Independent minister of Cork - 48 Carbery, Right Hon. Lord - - - - pp. 87. 439 Cashell, His Grace the Lord Archbishop of - pp. 17. 97 Collins, Rev. Michael, Roman Catholic priest - 380 Cook, the Rev. Henry, moderator of the Synond of Ulster, pp. 15. 22. 62.

WITNESSES. Costello, the Rev. T., Roman Catholic clergyman in Abingdon, county of Limerick - - - pp. 1. 136- 193- 434 Cropper, Mr. James, (residing in England) - - - 319 Currey, Colonel William Samuel, agent to the Duke of Devonshire, of Lismore, county of Waterford - pp. 1 1. 44 Currie, John, Esq. assistant barrister - - - p. 88 Curtis, the Rev. Patrick, D. D. Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh ------- p. 436 Daly, Joseph Morgan, Esq. a magistrate, residing at Westmeath - - - - - - - -p. 46 Day, the Hon. Robert, late one of puisne Judges in the court of King's Bench, residing in the county of Kerry, p. 94. 103 De la Cour, Robert, Esq. banker, in Mallow, county of Cork, p. 14. 408 Derry, the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of - - p. 17 Dixon, the Rev. Thomas William, late a Roman Catholic priest, now a Protestant - - pp. 113. 139. 175 Doherty, John, Esq. M. P. barrister on the Leinster circuit, P-371 Donelan, Mathew, Esq. a Roman Catholic, an officer of the the Kildare-street Society for Education - - p. 249 Doyle, Rev. James, D. D. Roman Catholic Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin - - pp. 3. 45. 98. 121. 131. 165. 168. 171. 174. 176. 180. 183. 191. 3, 4. 210. 214. 6, 9. 221, 2. 236. 245. 271. 285. 291. 361. 390.

Dublin, His Grace the Archbishop of - pp. 29. 95. 1 25, 126. 158. 177. 198. 209. 258. 287. 387. 393. 413. 469. Duggan, Rev. M. Roman Catholic clergyman at Kilrush, p. 43 Dunphy, Mr. M. B. superintendant of schools on the Roman Catholic system ------ n, 254 Egerton, Charles Bulkely, General, commanding in the Athlone or Connaught district, afterwards in Leinster, now in the north in Ulster - - - - pp. 44. 48. 77. Forster, John Leslie, Esq. a commissioner of Education, counsel to the Revenue, M. P. for Louth county, pp. 6. 26. 41. 49. 90. 340. 432. 451. Glassford, James, Esq. lately a Scotch advocate, commissioner of Education pp. 14. WITNESSES. XV Grant, William, Esq. barrister at law, Commissioner of Education ---.- - P- 13 Hay, Rev. George, Presbyterian Minister at Derry - p. 507 Horton, R. J. W. Esq. M.P. p- 320 Irwine, Colonel John, residing in the'county of Sligo, pp. 236.421 Keily, the Rev. John, Roman Catholic clergyman of Mitchelstown - - - - pp. 12. 89. 135. 379 Kelly, the Rev. Oliver, D. D. Roman Catholic Archbishop ofTuam pp- 12.45- Kelly, A. J. Esq. Sovereign of Armagh - pp. 16.89 Killeen, Lord p. 87 Kingston, the Right Hon. George Earl of, residing in the county of Cork - - pp. 95. 100. 450 Lewis, Thomas Frankland, Esq. chief commissioner of Education, late a commissioner to inquire into the Revenue department, member of Parliament, pp. 44. 49. 62. 333 Lloyd, John, Esq. sergeant at law, administered the Insurrection Act in the county of Cork - - - - p. 34 M'Carthy, Justin, Esq. of the County of Cork - - p. 42 M'Culloch, J. B. Esq. residing in London - pp. 2. 22. 50 M'Gauran, Right.

Rev. James, Roman Catholic bishop of Ardagh - - pp. 45. 134. 244. 273. 278. 280. 382. Mason, William Shaw, Esq. remembrancer and receiver of First Fruits, secretary to the Board of Public Records, and comptroller of the Legacy Duties, and has also been engaged in taking the late Census in Ireland - p. 20 Murray, the Rev. Daniel, D. D. Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin - - pp. 77. 98. 132. 159. 162. 171. 180, 200. 223. 232. 266. 292. Newenham, W. H. W. Esq. County of Cork - p. 42. Newport, Sir John, M. P. for Waterford - - p. 385 O'Brien, the Rev. William, D.D. parish priest of Doneraile, county Cork- .... pp. 283. 388 O'Connell, Daniel, Esq. Roman Catholic barrister, Kerry, pp. 1. 19. 46.48. 69. 100. 111. 128. 235. 285. 316. 346. 373- 414- 455- 463- WITNESSES. O'Driscol, J. Esq. - - - - - pp. 84. 146 O'Sullivan, the Rev. Mortimer, clergyman of the Established church, in the county of Tipperary - pp. 28. 44. 60. 118. 124. 140. 157, 158. 169. 174. 181, 2. 193. 198. 231. 235. 241. 247. 272. 292. 310.

Peel, Right Hon. Robert, Secretary of State for the Home Department ----- pp. 349. 384. Phelan, the Rev. William, clergyman of the Established church in the counties of Armagh and Tyrone, pp. 1 25. 161. 163. 222. 262. 467. Powell, Major, inspector of police in the province of Leinster, p. 38. Rochfort, John Staunton, Esq. a magistrate of Carlow, and Queen's County - - - - pp. 4. 130 Shiell, Rich. Esq. Roman Catholic barrister pp. 77. 364. 462 Tighe, W. T. F. Esq. p. 84 Trench, the Hon. and Venerable Archdeacon of Ardagh, pp. 450. 497 Verner, Colonel William, late deputy grand master of the Orange Lodge of Ireland, and grand master of that of the county of Armagh, residing in the county of Armagh, p. 66 Wallace, Hugh, Esq. a solicitor in the county of Down, p. 15 Warburton, Major, inspector of police, in the county of Clare, and provinces of Connaught - - - pp. 36. 284 Waring, the Rev. Holt, late grand secretary and assistant grand chaplain to the Orange lodges of Ireland, rector of Lurgan, county Down - - - - - p. 68 Wilcocks, Major, inspector of police in Munster, pp. 35.

PART I. CHAPTER

I. Condition, 8$c. of the Peasantry. DANIEL O'CONNELL, ESQ. THE parts of Ireland with which witness is most commons, acquainted, are the counties of Clare, Limerick, *s Feb- 18^- ... Report, p. 4o. Kerry and Cork. In these counties, the condition of the peasantry is wretched in the extreme ; their habitations not deserving the name of houses, their furniture and bedding miserably scanty, and their food principally potatoes, except on the sea coast, where the women and children procure some fish. , There is generally a season of distress between the time when the old potatoes fail and that in which the new are fit for use, and (there p. 49. being no adequate employment for the poor) they have no means of acquiring money to supply them with food p, 50. during this period of almost annual distress.

The want of employment, and the consequent inadequacy of wages to maintain a family, renders it necessary for the labourer to procure some land, and for this, which he finds it extremely difficult to procure, he is compelled to pay in general an exorbitant rent ; there is, however, March 1, a progressive improvement going on. p' THE REV. T. COSTELLO Beside those who hold small farms on leases, there Comm. is an inferior class, who are occasionally (for about twelve jw,rt>'p. us, weeks in the year) employed as labourers. This class P- 414' B consists of those who rent a house and a quarter of an acre of land, and who endeavour to procure a subsistence by taking more land, (perhaps a quarter or half an acre) on what is called the Conacre system. The rent paid for this is generally ten guineas an acre, the land being such as has been grazed for some years, and then given out for potatoes.

The persons, who are able to pay this rent are generally those who have more employment, and those whose habits are more industrious than others, and some, who are enabled, by the sale of a pig which they have fed, to redeem their potatoes, which, if the rent be not paid, the landlord seizes, sometimes paying back to the tenant what they have produced above the rent, sometimes canting them at a nominal price, and allowing him nothing for his labour in cultivating the ground, and for the expence he has been at in purchasing seed. The lowest class of all, which is very numerous, consists of mendicants, who from want of employment go through the country as vagrants, many of them able to work, but not meeting anywhere with employment. These mendicants, however, generally obtain from the charity of the people, food, such as it is, sufficient for their subsistence.

They are never refused a portion of the potatoes which a family are perhaps preparing for themselves, and are in general able to procure a surplus above the quantity necessary as food, which they sell in order to supply themselves with clothing. It often happens, that the families ofthe poor cotters suffer want in the summer season, while the mendicants are always fully supplied with food. Comm. Rep. p. 414. p. 413. p. 414. p. 416. By the Conacre system, is to be understood a practice of taking land in small portions for one season, and of allowing the landlord to consider the produce of the soil a security for his rent. p. 414. J. B. M'CULLOCH, ESQ. Comm. Derives his knowlege of Ireland from books and con versation ; thinks the Irish peasantry the most wretched 8 Juoe 1825, Report, p. 809. in Europe, and attributes their distresses to the excess of the population above the means of giving them adequate employment ; assumes, that the population of C( R Ireland has been increasing since the year 1821, at the p. 810. same ratio as it increased to that period from 1810, and p* hence concludes, that the present population is at the least seven millions and a half.

Of this number, two millions (including five hundred thousand females) are p.8io. above sixteen years of age and fit for labour, and to increase their wages from four-pence, (which, it is said, would be the present rate of wages if equally distributed through the labouring classes *) to one shilling a day, an additional capital of twenty millions would be required. To increase the proportion of capital to population, is p.sn. the grand difficulty to be overcome, and until the ratio of capital be adequately increased, it is impossible that the condition of the Irish peasantry can be improved. The comforts enjoyed by the people of Ulster, witness p. 812. attributes, not to the manufactures cultivated among them, but to the habits of a people educated under Pres byterian discipline. THE RIGHT REV. JAMES DOYI.E, D.D. ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF LEIGLIN AND KILDARE.

In witness's diocese, (consisting of the counties of Comm. Carlow, Kildare and Queen's County, and of portions K^JJJ? of Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow and King's County,) the distress of the lowest classes is more extensive and intense than any language can describe. During last p. 205. year, not a year of very extraordinary distress, in the summer, (when the stock of potatoes laid up in the pre ceding year had been exhausted, and before the labours of the harvest had commenced) great misery was expe rienced. In the town of Carlow, out of a population of eight or nine thousand, there were two hundred and thirty-seven families, averaging five and a half indivi duals each, who applied for relief, and beside these, there * See the evidence of J. S. Rochfort, esq. in this chapter. B were about five hundred individuals in want who would not go abroad to receive the relief given in public.

In the parish of Killisheen, where witness resides, the number of poor in a state of starvation amounted to seven hundred, in a population of between three and four thousand persons, and witness was obliged to lend money to almost the largest occupiers of land to buy seed for their farms. The pressure of this starving population is continued by the prevalence of early and improvident marriages, owing partly to the extreme poverty of the people, which renders them hopeless of improving their condition, and partly to their mode of life in which there is not a sufficient restraint upon the intercourse between the sexes ; as, generally, all the inmates of one house are constrained to sleep in the same apartment. Beside the causes which operate constantly in increasing or continuing the misery of the Irish poor, there has been latterly an accidental cause which has been felt in the neighbourhood where witness resides ; the tenants of some mountainous lands in the Queen's County unable to pay their rents, were compelled to relinquish their habitations, and, crowding into Carlow and its vicinity, increased the population to a degree which far exceeded the means of employing them.

The effects of such a state of society upon the mind of witness have been so severe, that he has frequently prayed that God would, if it were his will, take him out of life, rather than leave him to be a witness of such evils, if they are to con tinue. Comm. Rep. p. 208. p. 207. p. 208. J. S. ROCHKORT, ESQUIRE. Resides in the county Carlow, and attends on the grand juries in Carlow, and in the Queen's County. Is well acquainted with the town of Carlow; would not have thought that it contained so much distress [as that described by the preceding witness,] but would not under take to say that it does not, his knowledge of the poorer classes being too limited to justify him in expressing an opinion. Would not have supposed that so much Comm. April 22,1525, Report, 431. misery could exist unknown to a magistrate residing so Comm. near the town.

Considers the Roman Catholic clergy p" 45^ the best authority, as to the condition of the poor; un dertakes to say, however, that among his own tenantry there is not an individual who is not employed, and who has not wages sufficient for his support. Thinks that some of the peasantry in the neighbourhood of Carlow are more comfortably circumstanced than those in other parts of the kingdom, although some there, as elsewhere, cannot procure adequate employment. Is of opinion, that if the sums paid as wages were distrip. 43*. buted through all the labourers equally, and for the entire year, the average rate of labour would be about four-pence a day. Witness has property in the county of Galway so p432. overpeopled as to be capable of merely supporting its inhabitants ; and, although no rent is received, it would be hazarding an insurrection to attempt displacing the defaulting tenants ; this, witness states on the authority p. 433. of his agent.

Believes that some gentlemen have p.440. cleared their estates of a pauper population ; and that, in consequence, much misery has been experienced. The subdivision of land which has occasioned this excessive population,- has been owing in some degree to the habit of farmers giving land as marriage portions to their children, a habit which has been permitted, partly because p. 431. the proprietors of the soil had not, from the law, power P- 432. to prevent such a subdivision, or found great difficulty in enforcing their right so to do. Witness is of opinion, that the mismanagement of property in Ireland should be imputed less to the landlords, than to the circumstances in which they were placed ; that lands wasted p- 438. by war, having been, little more than a century since, granted to persons who had not capital to improve them, it was natural that a transfer should take place to those who promised moderate rents, and gave the landlord no more trouble.

Hence the order of middlemen. B3 Lords, 03 Feb. 1825. CONDITION, &c. OF Witness believes, that husbandry in Ireland is very much improving. r J. LESLIE FOSTER, ESQUIRE, In the performance of his duties, as counsel to the revenue, has visited every county in. Ireland; and, having an estate in the south of Ireland, is well acquainted with the management of agricultural property. The middlemen are frequently the younger sons of the younger branches of respectable families, who, considering a trade in land the occupation of a gentleman, determine, as they say, to take a farm, that is, to speculate on land letting* Being in general destitute of capital, they proceed to advertise the land ; and on the principle, though without the formality of an auction, the farm is given over to the best bidder.

The poor, having no other resource, are constrained to offer any nominal amount which may be insisted upon ; and it becomes matter of subsequent experiment how much can be enforced. The middleman, residing on the property, watches with great jealousy the under tenantry ; keeps an account of the stock in their possession ; follows them to the market, and takes care that they shall not have the power to divert the produce of their farms to any other object than his advantage. He is often the factor and vendor of such produce ; he obliges the tenantry to deal with him on his own terms, and one great source of * The Editor has had opportunities of knowing instances, in which middlemen of this class might be said to have been created by the circumstances of the country. A larger tract of land than would be let directly to tenants without credit or capital, was out of lease ; and, as it was not to be, in the first instance, subdivided, a number of the peasantry applied to some person of more solvency than themselves, urged him to make proposals for the land, and stated the terms on which they would be satisfied to hold under him if he were declared the tenant.

Instances of this kind have frequently occurred, in which the proposal of the middleman was accepted on a Saturday, and on the Monday following the arrangements projected respecting sub-tenancy were carrying into effect. Lords, 23 Feb. 1825; dissatisfaction in the south of Ireland, is the incorrectness with which the accounts of the middleman are kept. He leaves to the unfortunate tenantry only what satisfies the commonest wants of nature, and sometimes occasions their ruin by permitting them to be distrained for rent which they had paid to him, but which he had not paid up to the proprietor in fee. Where the tenant held directly under the head landlord, his comforts were much more regarded, and in general the rent was less exorbitant, and the mode of exaction less oppressive. This system prevails in many parts of Ireland, and is now very generally extending itself.

Those speculators in land whom the state of things during the war had created, were swept away by the fall of prices, and the operation of an Act of Parliament, passed a few years since as a remedy for certain evils in the system of tenancy, has excited a strong desire in the landlords to remove the remaining middlemen from between themselves and the occupying tenants. Before that act, the law gave, as it were, a bounty, on " tenancy in common," in the facility it afforded of removing an entire company by one ejectment, instead of going through a very tedious process, and bringing separate ejectments against each individual. But the late Act, which gives the landlord a power of recovering his ground, (provided the rent be under fifty pounds a year,) at little expence and in a short time, removes the inducement to continue the system of " tenancy in common," and enables a landlord, even though he be an absentee, to dispense with the instrumentality of a middleman, which was almost indispensable, while his ground was let not to single tenants, but to rural companies.

The necessity of bargaining with adventurers, imposed on the English proprietors of Irish land, by the customs which prevailed at the time of the confiscations, such as gavel kind, tenures in common and at will, (customs which were in force throughout Ireland, except in those B4 Lords, 23 Feb. 1825, parts which James the first had planted) has long since ceased to exist, but the high prices during the war con tributed to extend the system of middlemen ; and it is only within the last seven or eight years, that land lords have begun, generally, to treat directly with the occupying tenant, a practice which they might have adopted with advantage, fifty, or perhaps a hundred years since. There seems to be now a kind of panic felt among the proprietors in fee. Had the land been let on fair principles, they would have had little trouble in the management of their estates, but when, in con sequence of the bad system adopted, a superabundant and miserable population settled itself upon an estate, rents were witheld, and, in the end, the wretched occupants were dispossessed in a manner which occasioned a great increase of misery, even to an extent which furnishes reasonable grounds for believing that the population of Ireland is at this moment on the decline ; (the ejected population being placed in circumstances of such misery as that they must ultimately disappear).