The Sun. — London, England, 1845-02-24 00:00:00

.o determine on • s ,r e vould thus see that ed on, and the Tlrlianieal ' to the Pao iress he inaiutaiotto najority the '4' B 00 id been put hetoool strong inajortlYt;:ir a lone had the F r o lough not accolo. ern ni en t, been f 0,,, )ducing the Pi! de opinions and to oilice, but ts'ia as long as tberi, felt itself able t6isf abandon •/$ I to them in the• taut have retire/ aid their h 0110111,; nd they.persiste4) e and virile.--(::;;1 ity was necesswij )ossess such aOW Id prove to tbe • had boo (I°, 0' 'e in the Cr owa a circurostancey; had declared tP ion bad been 0 11 7,1! Billault alone II e n that, it wonicl.lj' regular col d i d would occur, 01, red from poer- .0 er on the hencbeeilt, o'er and a prot e e l F l y be a protect .0,0 1 fact, begging lbe ion would nc t bat y . n already aeent,do+; force could be S e l, the country. fie a real and gre l ' t ti rt at present hoccd,, tuition, for it I° O OV ghter.) furl # issions, how ,tc° tY, the probabilltiof !hanged. lichdc°, e changed L the Conserwetlio Tear, hear.) 10, t hi s situation, se Lnx i e us to e, c4;a:, ,t such a state what woe he a ; Dnyinced tbat ur years WO u cloill ,s t :: )ad ; and the une opinion.. deo! If the Chainit ye, Dnce retire y might be ange their 0pw(109,,, take place . itlions Wef re hcirei,?., ;`, )pinion o t iistry, he O u l d country 0,14 advent urousiriiieet, orth.—(Lclial3,4Be,' [. 0n1,05 Aotal 'fusion, th e 1/3 " . i f ter Idin • s of 24 for atisfied witij,.7"4 thethe tar;i; ths disenso:‘ 6let4 billet," An a tme oil le d two rest 104 'n .01 Lment, ea 1 - f i ll OP ° 3iples of +,i' .servatisol, (0041 speciallY .aiti° 1114 Five the s i j ,,so , It of view pt)i abinet,is es°.°o, !eble, tette° c1 1 : 4 pe r Cents', e r s t, ; hne O c ' t 9 °lf. 4 11; Hav re, liree p er C!rjts' nts. 61f. lc' 0 17. 1 4 aIS ? is of ercor ncellor, e 4 UP 0 • Ps' PaP"Jeti,de," att te being c- . 0 1F , )efore the of t ) 11' v-of,l' itl' 0 0010!t 4 , 4 orrov, c -el • coull' 6000 ;adieutoo 00 0 in a 1 w a s „ o re ider the day. —roll S tads Ook °u se s 0 11' f. ) peee I r • PA wills r —( 0 0er .or, ,0 :b e ' °r • $ (, wi t De • t re e ro v ici _ -110 11 '`'L c r of t eie a tea' 1;1 1 '` stree t ,' ev e ,,l I F r iak tr o• priir r g e eo 5 iie e bt e raving i°' 1) o tb , a iled tbe t yed w be . a A y 4 04V too . 0 0 lita .fi riega tts theme, 10 0 ttie e d ,P e ; ie ti a he eo l e i to 'if had ,b 1 0 0 , ett A .„ ; o , e e to a able o 5 !A r eceic i t , beel t b e 11 5 `ije ..nr g! int ° t eriO t be (s.' " e f ,he o sde ,Do °'" o tti vd ieb ete,- °Our, De I ' 4 15 1 i , ell i" 'J A" t OO o'r e g• cea - 0 0 '0 r , De O J6 ge- foti e fte. se e, w as Pv o tl! rhieh op eo t ; e , E o is w ic i e rto° Dr ° 'll ,o l of t wa s „pa to- %. rt e tt ei stiol i " b° [ 1' 0 ° 1 0 " lett er• the t o o t r tat' d tog ° t s P iir 4 !rs , ioe ) ac t 5 s. l) t i heY, /3 ,, of 0 0 1 0 - hinio s oon t ; I$Z r ao ioe ove`'h . " o fol'i.e„ cre d e tb „ht ti c ind nt th er t to o f e iDe t ' t z ri a l ore t ; 5 . •-str ee bOil t 0 ,1 ebtli rd, h i nd elit es Ou se , 4 41/ ,y one deCel( e,A tree $11" lif h e the al e ' C° . e ;red ro i t e!'_ e. e ffiri pator t the 4 0 P ne lr4, / nigh t r.• g othe jo g s " re v v e vc g a t sch e h oP his t ss: se did n ° Ili' fl re ° h e , iti orn i co oto t 3 tltot the o hce " the P tha t : eJt s tate be (' 1 0 5 . 11 0 1 , w as erio d oro e rO f oite traCeP t he ..A P so fresh fi bre ; 0 0 ' 0 esterli, t er 00 jaiol oiog es , l ather )„ 9 3 . this f E. habee, , le G o ° 6 E li( e -,,ape i 0 ; f M R / r, j i o ug o ot g o, ole Sthe od, o rio un der' 0, ass" to • ted ° was gung e , f erlj l lebaD° 9 3 , 0 ' le i j sb O breei ab pe c ' [ a sse) Ayres w oos - otw St e r g r aery 10 aerl Fe"l' l io '- own no ing , his 001 , ; Lo ge. A v . gi si ol to ya ,eon e. 10. ,• c 1)0' r IC °v * ge rd. Ge°r 0 00 " se, cubt ,f°r to o ' pe toes' oath r rd. S /4J3 • rds• f o r St. c a bs-. 0 0, b a bre , cars' c,basP, t r co . siT t hetif' ; 55 ' Sla• j 'tig" • i to ic o 1 1 ' Lydi a * ocrorio . itot b oe g ° 3 beg 0 0 1 A ' . 10 j* 3 / Or ol , b) cls o ,!ieo f t° reei, ooo ,out """ lI A-RKET NEWS.-(THIS DAY C ORN-EXCHAN GE.-31 ONDA Y. vea The retu rns f or the past week show a full average time-of i r arrival of E ngl i sh Wheat from Lincolnshire and Cam bridgeshire, but a limited one from Essex, Kent, and other garters. Of foreign Wheat, and most other articles of o r ain, the imports were scanty, but the fresh supplies of ;.ats, especially from Ireland and our own coasts, were exten ',e, and of fair average quality. Fresh up the receipts of by heat of home produce, coastwise as well as by land car riage and sample were by no means large. Notwithstanding 111" g show of sampl es o f t h at descr i ption of Corn was, consider-- \he reported arrivals, rather limited, the demand for it 13 8 in a very sluggish state However, the finest parcels of ° t•il red and white ' f!nind . buyers, at prices fully equal to th ose • hind niParat iyely ' • It • but all other paid o n this day se !ling i , -8 were somewhat easier to purchase. Although co fir" little free Foreign Wheat was brought ant, the inquiry for it was in a very depressed state, yet, ras the holders were firm, last week's quotations were pretty erany tipported. In Grain under lock so little was of oi l lg, that the rates may be considered nominal. The show The be st both English and Foreign, was moderately good. kiZ ve st malting parcels moved off at low rates. All other vv "," ,.. u .. 8 were a mere drug, at barely stationary prices. On the might'vie more business was doing in line Malt, but other kinds have been purchased on somewhat easier terms. In t"ltsequence of the large arrival of Oats, that article was ex hrernely inactive. The best parcels supported previous rates , ut other kinds . were somewhat lower. Beans, Peas, Flour " Se ed, met a very slow inquiry, at last week's quotations.' Nth, 4..l ctjttnENcv PER I3IPER L IAChevaIMEASURE. 4. ..ssex & Kent, Malt —ier .. . • 64s to 65s Red . ...... .. 38s to 47s Oats I orkshire and Ditto, White.... • • 43s 54s Lincolush., Feed. 22s 23s •Norfolk and Lin- Potatoe 24s 25s coin, lied... • • 38s 46s Youghall and Cork, Ditto, White.... • . 42s 50s Black . I rish, lied .. .. .•—s —s Cork, White .... 22s 23s 1t..._ Ditto, White .. .. • • —s —s .Yeola ............ 3ns 34s Beans—Tick 5 37s Scotch, Feed. .... 23s 24s b yew. ...... ••• • —35 s Pigeons -'4le3,—tlri tiding ...... 23s 28s Pease —Grey . 3 lalting ... •• • • 330 37 536 s 40s Maple... • • • • • • • • , C hevalier .... ••• • Ss -----s White ... ''''' ut— Sufroik and Nor- Boilers .•••. • • • • • 3Ss 43s folk .. .. .. ••• • • sBs 62s Flour—Town-made ... 4Cs 45s Brown ... .. .•• • • • 56s Cs Kingston and Ware 63s 64s Stocktn & Norfolk 33s 35s 'W hest—Dantzie...... 32s to 3(3s FOREIGN GRAIN AN D FLOUR IN BOND. • Beans tuk l 3 lomburgh .. ..... 303 - ----s Pease... 25s 32s Oats —New 27s 29s . Flour—American ... . . 21s —s Feed ... . • ........ • 17s 1 9s 1 Baltic 20s —s ... ••• • • • 15s 17s During the week 'ending SIVIZTEL FIELD' on Saturday, the imports of f9oreign stock into London comprised rised 65 head of Beasts, and h i) Sheep, all from Rolland. r At the outports no arrivals quality of the above aye taken place from any quarter. As to the general importation there were some extremely IN ti ell made-up Beasts amongst them, bt the Sheep were c, such good condition as we have before noticed. The Miole of the above stock having been disposed of here on Friday, M, Sheep e had non e on sa l e ; b ut a l arge num b er of Beasts and oftt maybe expected in the course of afew days. The supply nodoeastsfiom our own districts being somewhat on the increase. the Lue attendance of both town and country buyers by deoT e4ns numerous, the beef trade was extremely dull, at a ::\ orfolli er 811'; s in e in the currencies obtained on Monday last of 2d per the very, highest figure for the best Scots not exceed • 11 N 4s D Blbs. and a clearance was not effected. From 1„_ . , Suffolk, Essex, and Cambridgeshire, we received ties, is and Homebreds; from the northern grazing coun tr;_4oo Short -horns ; from the western and midland dis- R o T , 500 Herefords, Devons, Runts, &c.; from other parts of A r l a n, 44i110 of various kinds ; and rom Scotland, 140 horned bu t not e Scots. The number of Sheep were tolerably good, ver ‘ to say extensive. For most kinds the demand was lase l , ste ,a,dY, at fully, but at nothing quotable, beyond quotati Per gk e r e • K. s currencies. Prime old Downs produced 4s 4d y et tle s. We had a very limited number of Calves on offer, Veal trade was heavy, on easier terms—the extreme wer e in no not exceeding 5s per 81bs. Neat small Porkers Ab e fair request but all other qualities sold heavily. ut m arket.`' ' ' '' shorn Sheep and 200 Lambs were in the Per 81bs. to sink the offal. Inc teePrin°ar to s. s. d. s. s. d. to s. d. •••2 6 210 Second quality ditto 3 4 3 8 i g a il „... a litY itto. 3 0 3 4 Coarse-woolled ditto 310 4 0 tthlteOxen •• 3 6 3 8 Southdown Wethers 4 2 4 4 S u e Scots ••••• • 3 10 3 0 Ditto out ofthe wool 4- 4 -.ar se at° Calves 310 4 6 Large Hogs • • •• • 3 0 3 8 'all ditto 4 8 5 0 Small Pork e r s •••. 3 10 4 4 III& • n gCa l . • • - ior s h es, •• 18 0 30 0 Quarter old Pigs •• 16 0 20 0 " P ••••• 2 10 3 2 Lambs SUPPLY Al MARKET. 3p q • I Sheep. I Calves. I Pigs. 26,340 64 321 ? ! .0 1)1 1 Z 34 mrsiz.a.'rx MD LEAD EN 731%.1. L. S 'allgh ' t eo tland, and various parts of England, the receipts k :° ll gh er ed Meat, up to these markets, since Monday last, 48 04bi ° t so extensive as in the preceding week, have been tl 14 alitv . la rge ; and, for the most part, o f f a i r average ?Itite The supplies of Meat killed in London have b een 1114 Ctiv e te nSire ; we have, in consequence, to report a very ,e,neral demand, at, in some instances, drooping cur -41141 b oeveral carcases of Foreign Beasts and Sheep have u Y e rs, at fair prices. At per stone, by the Carcase. s. d. to s. 0. •• 2 6 2 8 1 Mutton, inferior 210 3 0 1 3 0 3 2 prime •• • • 3 4 3 G , Pork, large. -• • 310 5 0; small . "k otl JiRRIVALS DURING B T € I I IE r P s A i S ie T ep W C E , E ll T e . s Pigs. l'ork an l • • • . \,) shir e " ... 30 400 450 as Mr, • ..... 25 500 580 •• . ... .............. .• 10 90 100 ... 15 100 90 . shi 4 re 20 160 100 11 y • . ••• • • • rre ••• • • 25 200 140 300 vc "l '•• " • • 30 300 210 360 20 Part s "••• • • • .•••• . • . • . 20 190 80 90 6(l 200 60 200 B eef infe riOr. Iniddlind Urim e ?I nc 'Bllagaiei S. d. to s. d. 28 3 0 32 3 4 36 3 8 2 10 3 8 38 4 2 Total - •'• • •" * "%Us week's arrival * • 325 2,550 43 0 2,420 235 1,980 420 2,290 biz, . 570 60 110 renee since our last ••• • • • 90 570 Dari 40%017G71 AND tiek ter ng the past week the a S rr P iv . Z ars — ofPo t t e t y oes I p c o e n a - t s itted B,ll,ave been on an extensive scale, having or li ( 1 at e as °' 400 11 t 3 400 tons. The best qualities . . are in fair de 'Wl prices. ' In other kinds very little is doing. P MARKET. i In pockets, gro wth conlifit T t esT:b! l !go ir od ° denvand i for bags ces of last year's ho w 4i , as well as old olds, at very fu . I p ratil„,er,potwithstanding the supply is very ;mall, comps- little is doing. , Th e • WOOL MARKET. . The accounts Qave nnl?orts of Wool into:London, since this day se'nnight, heat the of about 1,00 bales and bags. the late im-. proud 'f!e nianufacturing districts being . favourable, the de l'tove,,°r nearly every description is active, and t he Th, --Lent in the quotations is supported without difficulty. TALLOW. Small kreera' an d is il;,,.lllarket has been steady. Prices are maintained, and f• c e _Food, as will be seen by the delivery. ery. obtain v at the 41?stsktio°11- 0..10.C. on the easyspo i t l , ils a t r7 .or not the ordinary description r t iii i o e rn p t e: 41; 1 ' 4 sort y . B . fete is ;i requeq at 39a to 40s 6d. In new Y.C. for the . a is 39s is w 39s to 39s 3d. Town Ta u ll t o ti w nTh is , -8 vr'Y inclinationto do business ; the price 039 little s 6d . 4°1%1 COMMERCIAL NEWS. Y and Lireere •,. CIT Y, QUARTER d in Cotton at on ,'"ns hut a moderate business traesacte . to 3,000 or 1 ,` 41 01 3 ": 1 ' ° ofaturday the total sales amounting There was ' c) alt -eswhich 1000 were on speculation. . s eration in • P ' Shares were dull, and prices were t e and 11,111;41:30. Ab ercie r e l n eea , 21 • Caledonian, 7i ;. ear and n4Blltel Exams 4 • Ditto and Holyhead, 8% u. ;Dublin., . ih Eastern ,x,ouhtion, 6% ,'Ditto and Drogheda, 77 , , _ "ntat es ' 1 73- • - - and Glasgow, 61 ; Glasew , 71, rie s, a _ ,8 1 Edinburgh s6d.. t Churnet Valley, q_ l 2 ; gt,..,n,,,t Uarlisle, 18s. 6d. 16 / ' 43 • Kendal and Win err% szt :orth of England, 40 ~ ' n , / Liverpool itrici 1 ; - /2 %; Lancaster and Preston, 407 2 11 1 ,.... ranch Lo don and e - kni aah --ester, 202 • Ditto, Half, 102 1 A ; -. n Quer at r S_ all 1. -ni ' 2 ', 3 7, ; Ditto, 321. Shares, 42% 'A ; Dit . to London - nd s o e s , 29y • London and Brighton, 58 1 / 4 58 ; Man ch lob -‘ 4 , Ost er •,v estern, 79%; London and York,. _ . i _b; ~,n , , ''',itt an dnir • ;Midland Counties, 126 . 4 .7 4' tr4o, 401, 011/n.ngli.am, 62 Carlisle, 122 1 _; North . Sh e Z.l3g ; ,?1,4„, Newcastle and . Scottish Central, 4% 1 4 ; ti ,, el(' ~.'''..,Trd and Rugby, 3% , 121 ); Shrewsbury and 'p r ,'stsr, 27,1 ,Ala nchester, Quarter, ; itto (No. 3), 8 %; her'tit v ail 4 - '4 ; S 9uth-Eastern, 40 _ ; Parist 3 and Stras- Ng , 2% N 9 ,6 %; Paris and Lyons, 61A ; Boulogne p, A11i,,, 'leans, Tours, and Bordeaux 'nee k -us, 5%; Central of France, 14A , vi ll , I l i . i • - Northern of e ke . s 11 y • rei a i i arrivals of importance this morning are . the corn itrtioa ette rs b r ncipal 9 ht by the verland Mail, the pri t AN that ' w hich b ug - delivered lt is satisfactory o 4r ee at Which ave been . progressing in a favourable 41,. r ti on. ~,. r were steady, and . ic,m , abl e • a 4 fiere was however still, as respects trade, a con , tesiden .niount of British manufactures on hand ' ll vat -el "- It contents of some of the Dr e i t _eaetvice, ‘LaPpears from the well' as at Canton, a te ( Q .gen era i , 'llat at Hong-Kop th e ti oa i,. opinion was entertame g d as that there would be . a Pal h Sir Robert Peel in t o eon tso ' 1 toe dut on tea propose_ _y be ea s e Present • of Parliament. As this is not Ivi li tile e,aSession of disappointment 4 Priv e be felt .considerable degree of the Premier of t, pint, c,. 'when the expose the date h " e e s , 'ince the Ist of October last, down G t e e at Britain 4:4 %d i , _ nt advices, the exports of tea to r ' h rices at y e 1)••7 qrnounted to abo t 7 - 49,0971b5. Very lug P -41t ed "11 Paid fo r u '` f r the reason above La ueh ~s ._ . green tas, a 9, o market at Canton. 4,4,..therebe.7-xacit.e,nient.existed ip the n teas would have v In l e d he re is achanete in the proportionduties g , th r a e n e black. do4iatietiefitnek greater tre has been a very trifling N 4I Q at ''''s mornin C I f e ccount have been -or ro 1004 , g• sellers, s or while for transfer to -I:poreitittpo pzelyersdanid sellps,l_ 00y 4 to 99%. The Qtkhed 7nNt txchea L 4 •Ws ri con re ti ai nues to advance ; it has atients, h a ve this rhOinZ The Three-and-a- Quarter per Q d ll b een t 104 r'' at 283 282 ; ank s to ., a n to % . India Stock 0 n‘ ,,, ~ lock at 21214" otir -"" ucal ofb • • in the Dutch T o. Per cetit usiness has been transacted The 31 / alid- s-li a s jp t 'day, at prices from 98% to 99 1 / s . at 1/.4 . % ; n. ~ per Cents. have been, pretty steady_ _ . •••‘:/tlea.,, -"Lazilian I,iv fir at 89%90 , "Apani," at 351 e per Cents. are 1 11 , 14' ' 1 c 0„.., ,/at ,41(; the Portugase Converted at 40%; Cents. at k n 2%t0 28 ; and the Three per `ery transact' i nns in *sii ntnnere, the Railway Shares have not been • have been ter ppo-; no but, in general, prices 8.. , tile br.•,sen .ID 1 ' esPecially for the Birmingham and Glouce lih rtis tol a nd Exeter, the Manchester and Leeds, &c. 4 FUNDS Ter, DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. 13a,,L. (From the Official List.) aj'---, Steck, . 2121(2 iterrepeent* Rele.c.;;i•Ali.a.u-itles.. *********** 100%% IN ev r a Olt. Consols Anna ................ B97i t, on 4 Per Cent. Annuties ............ 1 10. 1 / 1 % /adig4,„ nulties, Expire sth Jan 1860— 12% a S tock Jan. 282 B ank St , ..) ................................. 283 t , ons o i s i?, e tf r Account. .................. 213_ 100 4-4tehenlle `-'r 4tecount ........................ 1C 0 % I,o od/, r s 3ill s• ' ry, a. Iv, 1 3,31. ..................... bltt o p•••• ........... ... .. ' Ve rtiSed ~„. ~. __, „.„ 6B 70 pm. St. ITzlena, Jan. 4, with 13 feet wat er i n h er h o ld ; crew saved. The Sampson, of Irvine, took fire this morning in the Prince's Dock, but sustained little or no damage. CLYDE, FEB. 2 1.—Arrd. Akbar, Giles, Mauritius; Vibelia, Roberts, Ichaboe. Sld. Argaune, Calcutta; Casket, Jamaica. CBOOKBAVEN, FEB. 19.—Arrd. Henry Bell, Wood, Ichaboe, with loss of bulwarks, &c., at Ichaboe. SENDEELAND FEB. 9 1.—Shl. Mi nna , C a p e o f G oo d H ope . L ANCASTER, FEB. 22.—Arrd. Caledonia, Irvine, Ichaboe. CLYDE, FEB. 2 1.—Arrd. Argyleshire and Fellowship, St. ohn's, New Brunswick. LEITH, FEB. 22.—Wind E.—Sld. Cause, Jamaica. ConK, FEB. 21.—Arrd. Spy, Bennett, Ichaboe. \VBITEHAVEN, FEB. 9 2. 1 —The Alciope, Bennett, from Swansea, ashore near Workington, has been got off and brought in here. Several ves,,els arrived at Bahia prior to Jan. 14, from Ichiboe, in ballast. .11.1 A 13 THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 24 1845 be placed upon some one favourite plan, as likely to afford an effectual remedy for the admitted evils; whereas we feel certain that such substantial and permanent relief to the distress still prevalent in Ireland, can only be hoped for from a combination of measures adapting themselves to the varying circumstances under which the owners and occupiers of land are placed in dif ferent parts of the country. We find that the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the nature and extent of the several bogs in Ireland, and the prac ticability of draining and cultivating them, appointed under the 49th George 111., c. 102, made four several reports in 1810, 1811, and 1814, in which they express their entire conviction of the practicability of cultivating with profit an immense ex tent of land lying waste in Ireland. They confine their re commendations to the legislative removal of the obstacles to the improvement of these lands, which arise from the uncer tainty prevailing with regard to the boundaries of contiguous estates, and from the existence of various rights upon them, which are claimed by the neighbouring tenantry ; and to which obstacles they considered that the uncultivated state of these lands was chiefly to be ascribed. In the year 1819 a Select Committee of the House of Com mons on the state of disease and employment of the poor in Ireland, regretting the small extent to which the recommenda tions of the farmer Commissioners had been acted upon, and pointing out the great evils of a redundant population, recom mend the adoption of measures for the clearing, lowering, and embanking of rivers, by which so much low ground in various parts of the country is flooded, and for the drainage and re clamation of bogs and marshes. They also strongly urge the opening of communications through the mountain districts, and with the fisheries on their coasts, on principles similar to those applied in the case of the Highlands of Scotland. The Select Committee of the Commons, in 1823, advert to the misery among the poor, arising from the want of employ ment. This want they considered might be supplied, in part at least, by the extension of the linen trade to the south of Ireland—by the continued encouragement of fisheries—by the erection of piers and the formation of harbours—by the open ing of mountain roads, and by any other works of public utility ; all being aided and encouraged by public money, "given by the nation to stimulate private exertions." The Committee also express their concurrence in an opinion stated in the report of 1819, of the necessity of passing a general Drainage Bill for Ireland. The reports of Committees of both Houses of Parliament, in 1825, contain a great variety of suggestions made to them a ith reference to the political and social state of Ireland, which they press upon the attentive consideration of Parlia ment ; but as these suggestions are rather reported as points for consideration than as being supported by the opinion of the respective Committees, it does not appear to be necessary to state theaa at length in this place. In three reports in 1826 and 1827, from the Select Com mittee on emigration from the United Kingdom, the condi tion of Ireland, and the state of its poorer classes, are par ticularly referred to, and emigration advocated as the only effectual means of removing the evils of over-population, pauperism, mendicancy, and destitution which prevail in that country, and of obtaining the advantages proposed to be effected by the Irish Subletting Act, then lately passed (7 Geo. IV., a. 29.) In 1830 a Select Committee of the House of Commons, on the state of the poorer classes in Ireland, took a large body of evidence on the condition of the people of that country, and in their report laid before the House a summary of that evidence, with their observations upon it. In speaking of the peasantry generally, the Committee state " a very considerable proportion of the population (variously estimated at a fourth and a fifth of the whole) is considered to be out of employment." Great distress is described as ensuing from the want of demand for lakaur ; but notwithstanding the misery in many districts, there is said to be evidence of great improvement in the state of the peasantry of late years, and every indication of its continuance. The next topic reported on by the Committee is the law and practice in the relations between landlord and tenant. After describing the extent to which the subletting and subdivision of farms and lands had been carried during the war, and under the influence of war prices, and the change in the system of managing lands which took place at the peace, they speak of the misery occasioned to the ejected tenantry by the consolidation of farms. Still, however, being of opinion that such consolida tion was absolutely necessary, the Committee proceed with a summary view of the state of trade—the effects of steam navi gation—the state of manufactures—the state of the savings' banks, and the charitable loan societies—the health of the pour, as shown by the admission to fever hospitals--and the state of the country, as described by the criminal returns ; and after an account of the laws which affect the poor, and of the charitable institutions of Ireland, both public and private, they state the remedial measures which they propose for adoption, of which the following appear to come within the scope of our inquiry :- 1. The extension of public works upon the principle of loans repayable and adequately secured. By extracts from former reports they prove that for a long period admissions have been made by Parliamentary authori ties, that the then system of carrying on public works had been long open to serious objection. They describe the system pursu?rl in the Highlands of Scotland, and the beneficial results attending it, and state their conviction that equally rood effects would ensue from the adoption of a similar system in Ireland, founding that conviction on the great improvement produced in various parts of the country by public works, effected by public grants or loans in aid of local funds, or upon the security of local taxes. 2. The extension of inland navigation on similar principles. 3. Improvement of the grand jury laws. After referring to the importance and nature of these laws, the Committee turn to the question of the applotment of the assessments, and express their decided opinion that the county assessments should, in whole or in part, be imposed upon the landlords. In support of their view, they quote from reports made by former Committees, and the evidence taken before them on the subject. The Committee advert to other proposed amendments in the grand jury system, relating to the more equable distribution of public works, and a more convenient period for their exe cution—viz., when there is least demand for agricultural la• bour, and to the establishment of money payments is all pub lie works. 4. Drainage and embankments. The Committee, strongly impressed with the advantage of this class of improvements, recommend the trial of one or two experiments in the reclamation of waste lands, on a limited scale, at the public expense. 5. A correction of the abuses incidental to the system of tolls and customs. 7. Emigration. Emigration is considered by the Committee to be pecu liarly applicable, as a remedial measure, to the present state of Ireland, and of the relations of landlord and tenant there. They recommend that facilities should be afforded by Go vernment to such peasants as were disposed voluntarily to emi grate, and who could, either by themselves or their landlords (it being for the interest of both that farms should be consoli dated), provide funds to defray the expense of their passage and location in America. 10. A correction of the abuses incidental t) eustodiam writs. 11. A cheap and effectual mode of determining disputed wills, legacies, and intestacies, for small sums. It is proposed by the Committee to give power to the as sistant barristers to adjudicate in those matters, in respect to sums of a limited amount. The report conclude's with the enumeration of a series of measures, proposed with the view of carrying out the recom mendations contained in it. As a means of alleviating the distress occasioned by the re moval of tenants, it is proposed by the Select Committee on the state of Ireland in 1832, that public money should be given in aid of such sums as may be paid by a landlord to a removed and destitute tenant, with a view to its being employed in emigration. The Select Committee, in 1835, on the amount of advaeces made by the Commissioners of Public Works, in their two reports, urged the importance of an extension of public works, on the principle of loans and grants; and of an ex tensive system of drainage and land improvement under the Board of Work s they proposed several amendments in the law, to give s additional facilities for the attainment of both these objects. Among other matters not embraced by the commission under which we are acting, the Commissioners of Poor Inquiry (in their third report, 1635) recommend the adoption of mea sures to promote emi grat i on from Ireland, part l y b y a id from the general funds of the empire, and partly by rates and contribu tions in Ireland. With a view to the improvement of land in Ireland, they rocornmend the appointment of a Board of Improvement, with extensive powers for th , drainage and reclamation of unculti vated and partially cultivated lands. They propose to combine in some respects the operations of this new board with those of the Board of Works, and that the fund at the disposal of the latter should be increased ; they also recommend that additional powers should be conferred on that board, with a view to the promotion of all public work s ; and in order to remove some of the obstacles which have hitherto stood in the way of ex tensive improvements, they propose to give to tenants for life, &c., in Ireland, certain leasing and charging powers not now possessed by them. The Committee of 1836 directed their inquiries into the duties, salaries, and fees of the officers paid by the counties, and into the presentments compulsory on grand juries. They recommend the union of some offices, more particularly o f the Clerk of the Crown and the Clerk of the Peace, and that the duties of the united office be performed in person by a resident officer ; also the appointment of assistants to the county surveyor, and the reduction of the class of compulsory presentments. . The Commission of 1840, appointed to revise the several laws whereby moneys were then raised by grand jury pre sentments, recommended, among many other changes, that magistrates qualified by property within the barony, and the elected guardians of the poor, should alone form the dis trict presentment sessions' court, of which there was to be but one in the year; that there should be a finance committee and road wardens to pay the contractors quarterly; that the Board of Works should have a corps of assistant en gineers under it for the more effectual control of new roads ; that the offices of clerk of the peace and clerk of the crown, and those of treasurer and secretary, be united ; that. a judicial committee of the Privy Council be appointed as a board of appeal from the decision of grand juries and of the Board of Works, and that the Privy Council should make rules for the management of all gaols. Lastly, the Committee of 1844, on the townland valuation, recommended that the system of valuation which had been adopted on the suggestion of the select committee of 1824 on the survey and valuation of Ireland, and under the provisions of the 6 and 7 Wm. IV., c. 84, should be discontinued, and that a tenement valuation according to the net annual value for a fair average term of years , and applicable to th e i mpos i t i on and levy of all local taxes, be substituted. They then proceeded to suggest that the county cess and the poor rate should be levied together, and that the same prin ciple of payment between landlord and tenant be applied to both taxes. The principal measures which appear to have followed from those various Committees and Commissions have been, the townland survey, the valuation Acts, the several public works Acts, the drainage Acts, the Act for the abolition of custodiam writs, an extension of the civil bill jurisdiction to legacies of small amount, and the alteration of the grand jury system by the Acts of 1834 and 1836. At this stage of our report, and before adverting to those details to which the course of our inquiries has directed our attention, it may be proper to make a few observations of a general nature, and having, as we conceive, an important bearing upon every part of the subject under consideration. Whatever difference of opinion may be put forward or enter tained upon other points,. the testimony given is unfortunately too uniform in representing the unimproved state of extensive districts, the want of employment, and the consequent poverty ai.d hardships under which a large portion of the agricultural population continually labour. The obvious remedy for this state of things is to provide remunerative employment, which may at once increase the productive powers of the country, and improve the condition of the people. By what means and under what arrangements for the occu pation of land, this object can be most certainly at+ained—what difficulties and impediments may be removed—and what assist the interf erence of Parliament or rice can be properly given by the exertions of individuals, are points well worthy of considera tion by all those who have the welfare of Ireland at heart, and upon whir's it will be our duty to offer some suggestions ; but we wish, in this place, to record our decided opinion, that agri cultural imnrovement, that is, an increased and improved culti vation of toe soil of Ireland, is oae of the first and most im portant steps towardsimprevement in the condition of the people. Another general remark which our tour through the country and an extensive intercourse with the fa rm i ng c l asses ena bl es us to make, ic, that in almeat every part of Ireland unequivocal symptoms of improvement, in spite of many embarrassing and counteracting circumstances, continually present themselves to the view ; and that there exists a very general and increasing spirit and desire for the promotion of such improvement, from which the most beneficial results may fairly be expected. Indeed, speaking of the country generally, with some excep tions, which are unfortunately too notorious, we believe that at no former period did so active a spirit of improvement prevail, nor could well-directed measures for the attainment of that ob-• ject have been proposed with a better prospect of success than at the present moment. We regret, however, to be obliged to add that in' most parts of Ireland there seems to be by no means a corresponding ad vance in the condition and comforts of the labouring classes. A reference to the evidence of most of the witnesses will show that the agricultural labourer of Ireland continues to suffer the greatest privations and hardships ; that he continues to depend upon casual and precarious employment for subsistence; that he is still badly housed, badly fed, badly clothed, and badly paid for his labour. Our personal experience and observations during our inquiry have afforded us a melancholy confirmation of these statements; and we cannot forbear expressing our strong sense of the patient endurance which the labouring elasses have generally exhibited under sufferings greater, we believe, than the people of any other country in Europe have to sustain. TENURE. The expression, " tenure of land," may be used with re ference either to the landlord's estate, or to the interest which an occupying tenant has in his farm. In this latter sense it has been commonly used by the witnesses, and is generally understood in Ireland; and in this sense we consider it to form the principal subject of our inquiry ; but we think it ne cessary in the first instance briefly to notice a few cases in which the nature of the landlord's interest may have an influ ence upon the dealing with his tenants. It will be observed that we sought the opinion of most of the witnesses in reference to impediments in the way of improvements, arising out of the nature of the landlord's interest. The number of proprietors of land in Ireland is small when compared with its extent and the amount of its agricultural population. This circumstance, while probably it is one of the causes which has led to the want of that personal attention to the condition of the tenantry, which is at once the duty and interest of landlords, renders also the impediments in the way of improvement, arising from the nature of the proprietors' tenure, a matter of more urgent public importance in Ireland than elsewhere. It frequently happens that large estates in that country are held by the proprietors in strict limitation; and the pecuniary circumstances of the landed proprietors generally, arising, in some cases, out of family charges, and resulting in others from improvidence or carelessness possibly of former proprietors, disable many, even of the best disposed landlords, from im proving their property, or encouraging improvement amongst their tenantry, in the manner which would conduce at once to their own interest and the public advantage. Many of the evils incident to the occupation of land in Ireland may be at tributed to this cause. The removal of impediments, as far as it is possible to re move them by legislation, has formed the subject of inquiry and remark by the Committee in 1835, on the public works, and various suggestions upon it have been offered to us in the course of our inquiry. In accordance with the recommendation of that Committee, we are of opinion, that for the permanent improvement of an estate—confining that expression to such operations as may properly be considered of an agricultural character —tenants for life, and other persons under legal disability, should be em powered, subject to proper and efficient restrictions, to charge the inheritance, to an amount not exceeding three years' in come, for such improvements, being bound to repay the prin cipal by instalments, and to keep down the interest. This is no new principle. In Scotland, by the statute, 10 George 111., cap. 51, commonly called the Montgomery Act, tenants for life are empowered to charge the estate, to a certain extent, with monies laid out by them in improvements ; and in many instances in which it has been found impracticable, or very difficult, to comply with all the requisites of that Act, the principle has been fully recognised by the Legislature, which has passed private Acts with the same object. It is well known how greatly the agriculture of Scotland has improved under a liberal expenditure •f capital, and how much the improvement has contributed to increase the property and promote the pros perity of the country. In England and Ireland powers are frequently given by Par liament to trustees and others to grant long leases, or even to compel sales of land, for purposes considered to be of public interest, where the instrument under which the estate is held Ihas given no such power. We may confidently state that neither the improvement of land in Scotland, nor any of the objects for which the powers last referred to have been given, were of such paramount importance as an improved system for the occupation of land in Ireland is at this time. It must never be forgotten, that an improved cultiva tion, with the consequent increase of produce from the soil, and of comfort to the occupier, are not matters of private or individual interest only, but are intimately connected with the preservation of public tranquillity and the general prosperity of the whole empire. It may also be ob served, that in the statute 1 and 2 Wm. IV., c. 33, commonly called the Public Works Act, and also in a still more recent statute, 1 and 2 Vic., c. 55, the principle of enabling persons having partial interests to make charges for purposes bene ficial to the estate has been recognised. We hope, therefore, that an effective measure, founded upon the principles to which we have now referred, may soon become the law of the land. Amongst other measures calculated to facilitate such opera tions, we think it would b e d es i ra bl e that the Bank of Ireland should be empowered, like the Bank of England, to lend money on landed security. In adverting to the character of the landlord's tenure in Ireland, it is our duty to observe upon a species of tenure, scarcely known elsewhere, which prevails very extensively in that country, one-seventh of Ireland being said to be held under it. We allude to the tenure by lease for lives, with a covenant of perpetual renewal on payment of a fine, some times merely nominal, on the fall of each life. The origin of this tenure is said to he traceable to the condition and state of property, consequent upon the extensive confiscations to which nearly the whole of Ireland has at different periods been subjected ; the grantees, being generally absentees, and desi rous of securing a recognition from time to time of their pro prietorship, as well as the power of recovering their rents, are supposed to have originated this form of demise. This tenure, though manifestly intended to be perpetual, has proved a source of frequent litigation. Various construc tions have been put upon the covenants for perpetual renewal. We cannot more clearly exhibit the extent of this evil than by citing from Mr. Lynch's" Measure for Ireland " a quotation he has given from a judgment of the late Sir M. O'Loghlen, when Master of the Rolls in Ireland, in reference to this sub ject. " Every day's experience shows how very uncertain the duration of an interest under such a tenure is. Forfeitures of the right to enforce a renewal daily occur, through the neglect of tenants, or the dexterous management of landlords. Cove nants treated in some cases for more than a century as entitling tenants to renewal for ever, have been construed by courts of justice as not conferring that right. Any person who is much engaged in the investigation of titles under leases of lives re newable for ever, will find in almost every abstract of such titles a statement of the result of one or more suits in equity for enforcing the right. The usual statement is—the right to a renewal having been questioned, it became necessary to file a bill in equity." In addition to this high authority, we may refer to the evidence on this head. To remedy the inconvenience and ill effects which arise from this species of tenure, we recommend that powers should be given to the lessor and lessee in all cases to commute the tines into an increased rent, and thus to convert the tenure of leases of lives renewable for ever into an absolute perpe tuity—a power being given, as in the Church Temporalities Act, to distrain and eject in case of non-payment of the reserved rent, and to refer to a court of equity all questions as to the pecuniary value to be placed on any reservations by covenants which may interfere with the proper cultivation of the land. We also think it would be desirable that extended leasing powers should be given, under proper and equitable restric tions, to tenants for life, and to boards or corporations whose powers are restricted by law, such as incumbents as to their glebe lands, the provost and fellows of Trinity College, the trustees of Erasmus Smith, the Board of Education, and the trustees of Sir P. Dunne's and Wilson's hospitals. In the account given by witnesses throughout Ireland, of the mode in which occupiers hold their land, the most striking peculiarity is the custom prevalent in the northern counties, called the tenant-right. The origin of this custom has been the subject of much spe culation, but is now rather a matter of curiosity than of present interest. It dates from a very early period, having probably sprung up, as we have already noticed, as a natural consequence from the manner in which property was generally granted and dealt with in that part of the country. Large tracts having become the property of public bodies, or of individuals resident at a distance, the landlords were well contented to let their farms to those who would under take the cultivation and entire management, reserving to themselves a rent, but making no expenditure, and exercising little interference with the land. Under such circumstances, it seems neither extraordinary nor unreasonable that a tenant quitting a farm, either at his own desire, or from any difference with his landlord, should obtain from his successor a sum of money, partly in remunera tion of his expenditure, and partly as a price paid for the pos session of land which the new tenant would have no other means of acquiring. From this state of things a feelinj of proprietorship appears to have grown up in the tenant, which continues in a great de gree to the present day; and the extent to which it prevails may be seen by reference to various parts of the evidence taken in the province of Ulster. Under the influence of this custom, the tenant claims, and generally exercises, a right to dispose of his holding for a valuable consideration, although he may himself be a tenant at-will, and although he may have expended nothing in perma nent improvements. We found that in various parts of that province, sums equal to ten, twelve, or fifteen years' purchase upon the rent, ar e commonly given for the tenant - right; aid this, not only where the rent is considered low, but where it is fully equal to the value Proprietors generally have been enabled to place a restric tion upon this tenant-right, so far at least as to secure a power of selection with respect to the tenant, and to place some limit upon the amount to be paid ; wisely judging, that a tenant who pays a large sum of money (part of which he probably borrows) in entering upon a farm, will be crippled in his means for the proper management of it. Anomalous as this custom is, if considered with reference to all ordinary notions of property, it must be admitted that the district in which it prevails has thriven and improved, in com parison with other parts of the country • and although we can foresee some danger to th e j us t rights country from the un limited allowance cf this " tenant-right," yet we are sure that evils more immediate, and of a still greater magnitude, would result from any hasty or general disallowance of it, and still less can we recommend any interference with it by law. The increasing interest which many landlords, particularly some amongst the largest proprietors, take in their estates, the improved intercourse with their tenants, the liberal expendi ture made by some of them in permanent improvements, all tend to place the relation of landlord and tenant upon the foot ing most advantageous for both, and in proportion as feelings of confidence grew up, the evils of an unrestricted tenant-right will be avoided, and the beneficial results which, under a modi fied form, it is calculated to produce, will be secured. Both with respect to the district to which we have now been referring, and to ether parts of Ireland, it would be easy for us to direct attention to many instances of estates upon which the good effects of a steady and judicious management are becoming daily apparent, but we feel that if we were to do this we must also, in justice to the whole subject, point towards other properties with respect to which there is much that re quires alteration and amendment ; and we should thereby em bitter and prolong those feelings of distrust and irritation which it is our duty to allay. We shall, therefore, throughout this report, make our obser vations as general as possible. Speaking generally with respect to the o ccu p ati o n of land i n Ireland, we find that it is usually held under terminable leases for various terms, or by tenants from year to year. a lease for ever is more commonly to be the hayin g las found in in person class landlords than of occupants. It was formerly the practice with most landlords, particu larly those who were absentees, to grant long leases of a large tract to some individual who was answerable for the rent, and who undertook the responsibility of dividing and underletting the land. Those lessees were usually designated " middle men." _ This was generally done so as to secure a large profit, and the poor occupiers were frequently exposed to great oppression. The evils consequent upon such a system have been fre quently exposed in authentic reports, and every writer on Ire land has dwelt upon them. The practice of letting land to middlemen is now rare; but the system has entailed upon the country the most injurious consequences, and has been a fruitful source of the difficulties which embarrass those who endeavour to place the occupation of land in Ireland upon a safe and wholesome footing. We must recur to this subject hereafter, when speakir , more particul ar ly o f t h e c i rcumstances that usually attend th e falling in of one of those long leases held by a middleman. Looking generally through Ireland, we believe that the larger proportion of the land is occupied by tenants-at-will. There has been of late years, from various causes, an indisposi tion in many landlords to grant leases ; and it appears from the evidence, that in some cases, where the landlord is willing, the tenants decline to take them out, influenced to a certain degree by the high stamp duty. Upon some wall-regulated estates, the property of intelli gent and liberal landlords, who are upon the best footing with their tenants, no leases are given ; but we cannot forbear to express our opinion that, as a general system, it is more for the interest of both landlord and tenant that leases of a mode rate length should be granted. We feel, however, that this is one of the points which must be left to the discretion of indi viduals, and we cannot recommend any direct interference by the Legislature. The most general, and indeed almost universal topie of com plaint brought before us in every part of Ireland, was the" want of tenure," to use the expression most commonly employed by the witnesses. It is well known that the want of "fixity of tenure" has, for some time past, been sedulously put forward as one of the most prominent grievances of the Irish tenant. Some few of the witnesses before us have given to that term, a meaning wholly inconsistent with any regard for the most generally admitted rights of the proprietors of the soil, but this is not common ; most of them have referred to this subject in much more moderate and nasonable language. The - uncertainty of tenure is, however, constantly referred to as a pressing grievance by all classes of tenants. It is said to paralyse all exertion, and to place a fatal impediment in the way of improvement. We have no doubt that this is the case in many instances. In some, probably, the complaint is put forward as an excuse for indolence and neglect. IMPROVEMENTS. Before we proceed further in dealing vk ith this part of the subject, it may be necessary, in the first instance, to give some explanation of the particular expresoon,—" Improvements," —the want of which explanation would probably lead to much misconception on the part of persons unacquainted with rural affairs in Ireland. It is well kno;vn that in England and Scotland, before a landlord offers a farm for letting, he finds it necessary to pro vide a suitable farm-house, with necessary farm-buildings, for the proper management of the farm. lie puts the gates and fences into good order, and he also takes upon himself a great part of the burden of keeping the buildings in repair during the term ; and the rent is fix e d w ith re f erence t o t hi s state of things. S uc h, at least, is generally the ease, although special contracts may occasionally be made, varying the arrangement between landlord and tenant. In Ireland the case is wholly different. The smallness of the farms, as they are usually let, together with other circum stances to which it is not necessary to advert, render the intro duction of the English system extremely difficult, and in many cases impracticable. It is admitted on all hands, that according to the general practice in Ireland, the la n dl or d builds neitherdwelling-hou se nor farm-offices, nor puts fences, gates, &c., into good order before he lets his land to a tenant. The cases in which a landlord does any of those things are the exceptions. The system, however, of giving aid in these matters is be coming more prevalent. In most cases, whatever is done in the way of building or fencing is done by the tenant, and in the ordinary language of the country, dwelling-houses, farm buildings, and even the making of fences, are described by the general word " im provements," which is thus employed to denote the necessary adjuncts to a farm, without which, in England or Scotland, no tenant would be found to rent it. Under the same common term of improvements, are also included various agricultural operations, such as draining, deep trenching, and even manuring, which ought to stand upon a very different footing from buildings. It will be seen by reference to the evidence, that many witnesses of various classes have spoken of the discouragement to improvement that arises from the want of some certain tenure in the land. Some of these refer to the necessity for enforcing the grant of leases, as a remedy for this evil, with respect to which we have before expressed our opinion; while others again seem to think that the same end will be as effectually obtained by some legislative provision, securing to the tenant, under certain circumstances, a fair remuneration for any expenditure made by him of labour or capital in permanent improvements on the farm. We think that no person acquainted with Ireland, or who ,akes the trouble of referring to the evidence collected by us, can doubt the importance of encouraging agricultural improve ment throughout the country— including in that term improve ment of the dwellings and farm buildings, as well as the better cultivation of the soil. Undoubtedly when a landed proprietor is possessed of an un encumbered estate, or has the command of money, he may give assistance and encouragement to his tenants in the most advantageous manner; and a duty belongs to his position in this respect, which we find to be most faithfully performed in many cases. I In some insta nces th e t enant may h ave cap i tal which he will readily expend upon the land, if he can only be assured that he shall enjoy an adequate return for his expenditure, in the length and certainty of his tenure, or can have secured to him a fair compensation for his outlay and labour on quitt ing the farm. On the other hand it not unfrequently occurs that the only capital which the occupier of the soil possesses is to be found in the labour of himself and his family ; if you show to him in what matter the application of that labour may be rendered most conducive to his own comfort and permanent benefit, and assist him with money or materials which his labour cannot supply, you will generally find the Irish peasant ready to co operate with you in effecting improvements beneficial alike to himself and to the country. It is because we believe in the concurrent testimony of many witnesses that the attainment of these desirable objects is im peded by the feeliugs of distrust and insecurity that toe often prevail amongst the tenant class in Ireland, that we venture to recommend come legislative interference upon this point. The state of Ireland in this respect has not unfrequently en gaged the attention of Parliament : in the years 1835 and 1836, and again in 1843, Bills were presented to the House of Commons, of which the object was to secure for tenants com pensation for any outlay which they may make of a permanent nature upon their farms. Although it is certainly desirable that the fair remuneration to which a tenant is entitled for his outlay of capital, or of labour, in permanent improvements, should be secured to him by voluntary agreement rather than by compulsion of law ; yet, upon a review of all the evidence furnished to us upon the sub ject, we believe that some legislative measure will be found necessary in order to give efficacy to such agreements, as well as to provide for those cases which cannot be settled by private arrangement. We earnestly hope that the Legislature will be disposed to entertain a Bill of this nature, and to pass it into a law with as little delay as is consistent with a full discussion of its prin ciple and details. W e are convinced that in the present state of feelings in Ireland, no single measure can be better calculated to allay discontent, and to promote substantial improvement throughout the country. In some cases, the existence of such a law will incline the landlord to expend his own capital in making permanent improvements. In others, he may be called upon, on the eviction or retirement of tenants, to pro• vide the amount for which their claims may be established under the Act. The power which we have already recommended to be given to enable persons under legal disabllities, to charge their estates for certain purposes, will assist in rendering effectual the provisions for compensation here referred to, and in providing against an undue pressure on existing landlords from their operation. We do not express these opinions without having come to the conclusion from a careful examination of the whole subject, that a satisfactory enactment may be framed for this purpose, which should contain some such provisions as the following : 1. A.' - power to register with clerk of the peace, agreements between landlord and tenant, relative to improvements on farms, by draining, or otherwise, and on farm buildings, &c., with a power to assistant barrister to enforce same, with an appeal to judge of assize. 2. In cases where parties do not agree, a power to tenant to serve notice on landlord of any proposed improvement in farm buildings, offices, or exterior fences, the suitableness thereof to be reported on by mutually chosen arbitrators, with power to the assistant barrister, on such report, and after examination, to decide and certify the maximum cost, not _exceeding three years' rent. 3. If tenant be ejected or his rent raised within thirty years, the landlord to pay such a sum, not exceeding the maxi , mum fixed, as work shall then be valued at. 4. Provisions for the registration of such adjudications— , works to be completed within a limited time from date thereof —and landlord to have power to execute, charging five per cent. on outlay, not exceeding estimate stated therein. CONSOLIDATION OF FARMS. The removal of large numbers of tenants or occupiers of small portions of land from their holdings, has long been the subject of observation and complaint. Former reports have remarked upon it, and adverted to the causes that led first to the multiplication of occupiers upon the land, and subsequently to their removal. The Committee of 1823, in particular, when touching upon this subject, say that during the war, partly from political motives, in adding to the number of voters, and partly from the ease with which high rents were paid for land, an extraordinary sub-division of farms took place. The Select Committee of the House of Lords in 1825 also refer in their report to the minute subdivision of land, the extreme difficulty of preventing it, and the number of persons intervening bet w e e n th e h ea d ' landlord and the immediate oc cupier. And they state that they observe with satisfaction that the increasing intelligence of landlords is now endeavour ing to apply a gradual remedy to the subdivision of land, and that they entertain a confident expectation, that for the mutual benefit of both landlords and tenants, this remedy will be as extensively applied as circumstances will permit. The Committee on emigration in 1826 and 1827 speak of a growing conviction (already almost universal) among the landlords in Ireland, of the 'mischief of the system of an under-tenancy, and of the excess of population which at tends it. In like manner, the Select Committee of 1830 describe the advancement of agriculture during the war, the consequent demand for labour and augmentation of the population, the in creased value of land, and so the temptation to subletting. After alluding to the wretched condition to which the sub division of land and an over-population had reduced the people, their report proceeds— " Such was the state of things so soon as a fall in prices occurred after the peace. A change then began to take place in the system of managing lands. The great decline of agri cultural produce prevented many of the middlemen, as well as the occupiers, from paying their rents ; an anxiety began to be felt by the proprietors to improve the value of their estates, and a general impression was produced in the minds of all per sons, that a pauper population spread over the country would go on increasing, and the value of the land at the same time diminishing, till the produec would become insufficient to main tain the resident population. That evil became so obvious,' continues Dr. Doyle, that the proprietors thought some rem e d y oug h t to be applied; principle of which and they did accordingly apply rem e di es, of the I highly approve; but I th oug h t, and still tink, that those laws ought to have been accompanied by some provision for the poor.' " The new system of managing lands was th a t o f consolida ting farms, a n d b r i ng i ng the lanlord and tenant more imme diately in contact. It is stated to lead to better husbandry, to a greater certainty of the potatoe crop, to farm buildings and more comfortable habitations, to the gradual improvement of the quality of the soil and the quantity of produce. Lower rents are assumed, but, on an average of years, larger rents are paid ; and a race of yeomanry is likely to spring up and to be encouraged. These benefits are so strongly felt, that all the witnesses concur that they are universally recognised by landlords and agents, and are carried into practice as far as t circumstances will admit. The risk to be apprehen d e d is no that the proprietors of land should be insensible to these consi- derations, but that they should, in some cases, proceed with too much rapidity. " So far from its being for the interest of the landlord to sublet, and so far fiom there existing any inveterate habit of subdividing farms for the sake:of acquiring higher rents, expe rience has shown that personal interest imperatively prescrite sz a contrary mode of proceeding. It is a mistake to imagine that these clearances of estates have originated with the Subletting-, Act, or with the statute that raised the franchise; on the con— trary, they existed more than ten years before those measures had been adopted; bet it is undoubtedly true that both statutes have given motives or afforded facilities for pursuing a course: previously adopted on the ground of priva'e interest. If tho condition of the landlord and of those tenants who remain its p session of the soil are alone considered, the change is un doubtedly one of unmixed good. But the situation of another class remains to be considered, that of the ejected tenantry, or of those who are obliged to give up their small holdings it, order to promote the consolidation of farms. Their condition is necessarilyenost deplorable. ' It would be impossible for language to convey an idea of the state of distress to which the ejected tenantry have been reduced, or of the disease, misery, and even vice, which they have propagated in the towns wherein they have settled; so that not only they who have been ejected have been rendered miserable, but they have carried with them and propagated that misery. They have increased the stock of labour, they have rendered the habitations of those who re ceived them more crowded, they have given occasion to the dissemination of disease, they have been obliged to resort to theft and all manner of vice and iniquity to procure subsistence; but, what is perhaps, the most painful of all, a vast number of them have perished of want.' " Your Committee cannot help hoping arid believing that the foregoing powerful statement is one which describes an extreme case ; still, there can be no doubt that in making a change, in itself important and salutary, a most fearful extent of suffering is produced. " The change is unavoidable, and could not have been de layed ; a postponement could not have averted the evil day, which would eventually have come, and have been attended with pressure, aggravated by reason of the postponement. 6" Had the evil gone much farther,' continues Dr. Doyle, ' the misery would of necessity have increased. It was, indeed, essentially necessary to the good of the country that the sys tem should be corrected, and every wise man applauds those measures which were taken for the correction of it; but I be lieve there are very few people who now witness the sufferings of the poor in Ireland, who would not be inclined to say, that along with those acts to which I have referred, there ought to have been a provision made for the ejected.' " Your Committee " (the report continues), " conceive that it is the imperative duty of individuals, of the Government, and of the Legislature, to consider what means can be devised to diminish this mass of suffering, and at the same time to secure for the country a better economic condition, pro moting a better management of estates, and regulating the relations between landlord and tenant on rational and useful principles." And in 1832, the Select Committee on the state of Ireland, in searching for the cause of distill bailees in that country, re fer to the removal of tenants from farms at the expiration of old leases, as one of them, and add, " But the subject involves so many important considerations, such as the rights and duties of landlords, the obligation of tenants to fulfil the covenants of their leases, and the claims of tenants on humane and indul gent treatment by their landlords, that the Committee have not been able to discover any plan by which the tenants removed may be altogether protected from being exposed to severe hardship." Feeling this subject to be one of vast importance, we have been very anxious to acquire correct information upon it. In our prinied queries we directed attention to the consolidation of farms and the eviction of tenants; and in the oral examinations we constantly addressed questions to the witnesses upon these points. The answers to such questions, together with nume rous explanations which such answers have called forth, arc in the Appendix. Upon a revie a- of the whole subject, we feel bound to express cur opinion, tl:at there has been much of exaggeration and mis statement in the sweeping charges which have been directed against the Irish landlords. In common with the Committee of 1832, whose language we have quoted, we feel the impossibility of providing any direct remedy by legal enactment for the suffering described in the preceding extracts. The evil arises from the abuse of a right, of which the ex istence is essential to the maintenance of property; but, although we cannot recommend any interference by law with the right, it does not follow that we should hesitate to expose the abuse, or to point out the means which, in our opinion, may and ought to be adopted to mitigate the evils resulting from it. A considerable period has elapsed since the consolidation system first commenced, and the recent instances have been comparatively few. Much, however, of the evil caused by former clearances still remains, but we trust that the increased care and attention given by landlords to their estates will pre vent its recurrence. It is certain that the removal of a number of poor occupiers from the dwellings and the land which they have long held, must be the cause of much individual suffering; and no humane landlord will adopt such a course without using his best endea vours to alleviate that pressure. It may be useful to consider the circumstances under which, at the present time, such removals of tenants occur. We find no reason to believe that they are usually prompted by feelings of a religious or political character. Individual eases occasionally arise in which the operation of such motives may be traced ; but we think that all who look at the evidence with an impartial eye, will concur in the general conclusion at which we have arrived. The cause which most frequently, at the present day, leads to the eviction of a number of tenants on a particular estate, is the wish of the proprietor to increase the size of the holdings, with a view to the better cultivation of the land ; and when it is seen in the evidence, and in the returns upon the size of farms, how minute those holdings are freque n tly f oun d to b e, previous to the change, it canno t be denied that such a step is, in many cases, absolutely necessary, and called for by a due regard to the interest of both landlord and tenant. Some witnesses, who put forward most strongly, as matter of complaint, the consolidation of small holdings, into what they call large farms, in answer to the further questi , n—" To what size were the farms brought ;" describe them as enlarged to the extent of 25, 20, or even 10 acres. We give this, of course, only as the general result of our inquiries. There have been, undoubtedly, cases in which large numbers of tenants have been removed, with a view to create much larger farms, or with a view to the occupation of land in some manner more agree able to the landlord ; but these are the exceptions, and not the general practice. In either case, the feeling that is engendered amongst the parties removed and the surrounding population, as well as the opinion which impartial persons will form, must depend, in a great degree, upon the mode in which the removal is conducted. It now frequently happens that upon the expiration of a long lease, a landlord finds his property occupied by a multitude of paupers, who had obtained an occupation of a few roods or acres, either through the want of a clause against subletting in the former demise, or the failure of the landlord through some legal defect, or his own neglect to enforce that covenant, if existing. Many of these poor people are found living in a most miserable way, and quite incapable of managing their land properly, or so as to derive from their small holdings a sufficient supply even of food for their subsistence. It becomes absolutely necessary, with a view even to the con dition of the people themselves, as well as towards any general improvement in the country, to make some change. A humane landlord, finding himself thus circumstanced, i f he is resident, or if he has an intelligent and active agent, will have much communication with the individual occupiers. He will inform himself of their respective position and character. He will select a sufficient number of those best qualified to occupy a farm, and will establish them in holdings of such size as will enable them, with industry, to live comfortably, and to pay a reasonable rent. He will encourage and assist some who may be willing to emigrate. He will aid others in settling themselves upon waste land belonging to himself, or will assist them in procuring it for others, and, for some of the poorest, he will find employment as labourers. In this way he will be enabled at the same time to improve the condition of his property, and to benefit the population with which he has had to deal. Instances of successful proceedings of this nature have been brought before us, affording examples well worthy of imitation. On the other hand, if a landlord, finding a portion of his estate thus overrun with pauper tenants, looks only at the benefit to be derived from a new arrangement of it, without a sufficiently close attention to the effects of this upon indivi duals, a great extent of misery will often be produced. Arrangements hastily adopted—rules arbitrarily laid down and Enforced, for the remodelling of estates, grounded perhaps on some pre-conceived theory in regard to the si ze o f farms— will often be found to disappoint te expectations of the pro prietor, and to produce much individual misery, however lavish the expenditure. The worst consequences may thus result from a want of due caution and careful attention to all the circumstances. Perhaps the agent, after selecting a sufficient number to remain on the farm, advises the giving of a sum of money to the rest. But it is difficult to say what compensa tion, apart from land, will be adequate in a country where land alone affords a permanent security for food. The money is soon spent in the temporary maintenance of the family. They may be willing to labour, but can find no employment. Some of them may be ready to emigrate, but require the ad vice and assistance of a kind friend to put them in the way of taking this step with advantage. Others may be desirous of exerting their industry in the re clamation of some waste land, but know not where to apply, or by what means to encounter the first difficulties of such an un dertaking-. Thus it is, that a proceeding which under the existing cir cumstances of Ireland is often indispensable, may become a source of comfort or of misery, according to the spirit in which it is carried out. RECOVERY OF RENT. Our inquiries have been also directed to ascertain what is the course most usually adopted by landlords in Irelandfor nn re coveryo of rent against defaulting tenants. The evidence this point shows the practice to be so differen t in d iff erentcuracy, places racy that; ageneral pretenudntoongiit. give, with any degree of ac. u we cannot statement The remedies opentooesas by civillandl bill,orcl area d thednistr more indirectess, action in the superior courts, or process method by ejectment. . . ; it,under particular circumstances, has been made the As the power of distress is liable to be , abused, and the exer cise of um subject of complaint, we have given much consideration to th e question whether this power could be abolished to the tenant and safety to the landlord, and we have come to the conclusion that this would not be a beneficial change for either party. The right of distraining, whether derived from the feudal or the civil law, has always been a part of the common law of England and Ireland. It has been regulated and varied by several statutes, and there is now little difference in the present state of the law in this respect as it prevails in both countries. We believe that the abolition of the power of distress would greatly weaken the just rights of property, particularly with respect to the smaller class of tenants; and we think that the change would operate injuriously as regards the poor population, because proprietors would be unwilling to intrust the possession of a cabin or an acre of land to a tenant, if they were deprived of those means of protecting themselves from loss whi c h th e right of di s t ress a ff ords. Although we do not recommend the abolition of the right to distrain for rent, yet we think that some alterations may pro perly be made in the law which will render the enforcement of it less severe upon a tenant. We recommend that the right to seize growing crops by way of distress for rent shall be altogether taken away. This power . was introduced into the law of Ireland by a statute of comparatively recent date ; it is very liable to be abused, and although it may sometimes be useful for the re covery of rent from a particular class of tenants, yet we think that the evils growing out of it greatly overbalance any advan tage which it can be shown to possess. The statute 6 and 7 William IV., c. 75, requires a notice to be given to the tenant of the amount and particulars of rent for which distress is made, but it appears that no particuia is i r time is fixed for giving such notice, and that the want of it utondae,ta double p no objection to the validity of a distress. We recommend that it shall be made person making a distress, to serve, or cause and that the want a notice at the time of making the h 1 , im o pe t r o at b iv o e s u or p , o e n d, e s v n e c r b y of it shall render a distress illegal. It at present the occupying u ni s id t d h l a er t _ orn b e y e , ss th of i mesne landlord, is in some cases In or distress. He ought to be pro tected The particular mcde exposed tenant,lt ap pears consideration, but we have of doing t just rights that it may be effected without dagger to the just by hi s s ta w t i ti l t h cfro requirem thisfurth further danger. no doubt ribhts of any party. PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK. Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent B 9 l/, 90 Ditto New Bonds, 1829 and 1839 871, Mexican Bonds, 1837, 5 per Cent. 3551 ,. 8 '1. Ditto for the Account . Portuguese Bonds ' 5 per Cent — Ditto Converted — Ditto for the Account 60% Spanish Bonds, 5 per Cent., 1840.. Ditto for the Account. Ditto 3 per Cent Ditto for the Account. Dutch 2 1 / 2 per Cents Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates 99 98 3 / 4 991 , 98% PRICE OF SHARES AT ONE O'CLOCK. RAILWAYS. PAID. PER. SHARE. Birmingham and Gloucester 100 131 1 / 2 to Ditto, New. Ditto. Ilaif Shares ...... .. 3 Bristol and Exeter Bristol and Gloucester Caledonian Cambridge and Lincoln Cln:ster and Holyhead Churnet Valley 2 Cornwall .. 3 ...... VA..-- to 4 Pirect Northern Dublin and Galway 2 l /2 3%%... to Eastern Counties 14/. 16s l 7 l /2 to 17 Eastern Union Ditto Extension Great South and W. (Irish)... 5 Ditto Extension Great North of Eng1and......100 Ditto New Ditto New Great Western Ditto 1 /, Shares London and Birmingham ...100 231 .....9 to 230 Ditto New Thirds... Ditto Quarters .. . 2 29% to London and Brighton.... 50 58% 57% to 58 London and Greenwich... 12/. 15s. 4d 10% ..... . .o London and South Western.. 41% 79 Ditto New 2 l /2 l9 l /2 to 12 London and Croydon Ditto Guaranteed 5 per Ct. 4 London and York ... ..... 912. 7% to 7% Manclie3tei and Lccd. 73 .. .. Ditto Half Shares Ditto Sixteenths • ... 24.. ~ Manchester and Birmingham 40 Pok idla II (1 - -- Ditto Ncw Midland, Birm. and Derby —.IOO Newcastle& Darlington <Attic. 24 ...... 47 Newark and Sheffield North British Ditto New 1 3% to Northern and Eastern Norwich and Brandon lO ... 164 to Ditto, New .. 1 Oxford and Worcester 2 l /2 l ll to Rugby, Worcester. and Tring 1 Shrews.,Wolver., Dud., Birm. 21 ... 4 1 / 2 % 37 8 to 41/ 2 South Eastern and Dover ... 33 1 % Ditto New, No. 1 8 Ditto New, N 0.2 2 9 % to 8 % Ditto New, No. 3 2 l / 2...... B_ l / 2 -- to 71,s South Wales Trent Valley Waterford and Kilkenny 1 .... 3 1 2 8 to York and North Midland ... 50 ....„ Ditto Half Shares Ditto, Extension FRENCH RAILWAYS. 28 27 Boulogne and Amiens Bordeaux and Toulouse Great Northern of France ... 4 Lyons and Avignon Orleans and Vierzon Orleans and Bordeaux ... .. 2 Paris and Orleans . 20 ..... 46 1 /; to Tours and Nantes . 1 - MANCHESTER STOCK EXCHANGE, FEB. 22.—We have had a quiet market, without much variation in prices. —London and Brighton, 584 cum new ; Manchester and Birm ingham, 62 ; Sheffield and Manchester, Quarter Shares, 13 ; South-Eastern, No. 3,8% :!.i ; Barns ley Junction, 63-16 ; Birkenhead, Manchester, and Cheshire Junction, 74 ; Blackburn, Burnley, and Accrington, 5 1 ,4 ; Blackburn, Darwen, and Bolton, 4 ; C a ledo n i an , 74 ; Cam bridge and Lincoln, 3% ; Ch urne t Valley, 7 3 %; Hudders field and Manchester Railway and Canal, 5 1 / 2 ; Huddersfield and Sheffield Junction, 4 ; London and York, 7% ; Man chester and Buxton, 3 1 / s ; - Newark and Sheffield, 2 1 4 ; Trent Valley, 19% ; West Yorkshire, 4%; Boulogne and Amiens (English), 5% 7-16 ; Sambre and Meuse, 34. SUMMARY OF NEWS AND Vint)lir la Witten. " Who runs may read." FOREIGN. The adjourned discussion upon the Secret Service Bill commenced on Friday by a speech from N. Joly against the Bill. He was replied to by M. Liadieres, who was interrupted by M. Thiers in a most extraor dinary manner, the latter exclaiming that it was the King who was the first to set the example of singing the Marseillaise. M. Boudet proposed that the sum demanded be reduced by 25,000 f. The Count d'Haussonville combated the amendment, which was supported by N. Billault, in a violent speech, who was met by M. Guizot, to whom Odillon Barrut replied. At seven o'clock, the close of the debate upon the amendment was called for, when the nominal appeal was made, and the question of confidence implied in the amendment was put to the vote, when there appeared—For the amendment, 205 ; against it, 229—majority for Ministers, 24. The Cham ber then proceeded to vote upon the original proposition for a million of francs; when there appeared—For, 217; against, 41—majority for Ministers, 176. The Opposi tion left after the vote on the amendment, as they did when beaten on the address. The Chamber rose at eight o'clock. On Thursday evening the King of the French received the Pope's Nuncio, Prince Pignatelh, M. Rossi, Peer of France, Barons de Barante and de Bourqueney, and M. Bouny, Director of the Indirect Taxes. The Director-General of the French Post-office has pub lished an official notification of the establishment of a mail from London to Calcutta on the 24th of every month (ex cept when the 24th falls on a Sunday, when it will leave on the following day), and stating that it will pass through Paris on the night of the 25th. The Marquis de Ferriere, First Secretary to the Embassy to China, has arrived in Paris with the treaty of commerce signed at Whampoa by M. de Lagr6ne and the Chinese Pleni potentiary. M. de Ferriere, in order to avoid the performance of quarantine at Toulon, came by the English packet from Alexandria to Southampton, and thence into France by Havre, thus shortening his journey by five or six days. Possibly this may open the eyes of the French Government on the beauties of quarantine and passports. Accounts from Athens, of the 2d, state that the Greek Mi nistry was daily gaining strength, and that tranquillity pre vailed throughout the country. The funeral obsequies of Admiral Gregg were celebrated at St. Petersburgh on the 6th with much pomp. The Grand Dukes Alexander, Michael and Constantine were present. The King and Queen of Sweden and Norway arrived at Christiana on the 6th inst., and were received there with great rejoicings. A letter from Lucerne, of the 13th, in the Net, Zurich Gazette, states that 72 persons have been condemned to various punishments for the part they took in the late rebel lion, and that nearly 1,200 others are under prosecution. Marchal, the author, M. Cauville, the publisher, and M. Blondeau, the printer, of a libellous pamphlet, entitled La fandlle d'Orleans, have been condemned in default by the Court of Assizes, and sentenced each to five years' imprison ment, and a fine of 10,000 f. Immediately after the judg ment Marchal was arrested on a warrant charging him with fraud. It is said that M. Berryer and M. Cretnieux both successively declined appearing as counsel for Marchal, on account of the nature of the work, which had before been condemned in 1835. COURT-FASHIONAELE. The Duke of Buckingham has left Buckingham House for Stowe. His Grace presides on the 25th at the Conservative Association dinner, at the Town-hall, Buckingham. The Marquis of Chandos, Sir Thomas Fremantle, Bart., M.P., and Sir J. Chetwode, Bart., M.P., act as stewards on the occasion. The Duke of Wellington's contemplated banquet to the judges and members of the bar, at Strathfieldsaye, on Wed nesday next, is necessarily postponed, owing to the death of his brother. Their Graces the Duke and Duchess of Cleveland and Lady Augusta Powlett intend to remain at Raby Castle till after Easter, when they will proceed to St. James's-square, London, for the season. The Marquis of Northampton has left town for Torquay. The Earl of St. Germans left Dover-street at the close of last week to visit Lord Eliot, his eldest son, who has entered Oxford University. The Noble Earl afterwards proceeds to join the Countess and the Ladies Eliot at Port Eliot, Corn wall, where the family purpose sojourning until after the Easter recess, when the Noble Earl and Countess come to town for the season. The Earl of Aberdeen has issued cards for a grand dinner party, at Argyll House, on the sth of March. The Lord Chancellor, Lord Brougham, Lord Stanley, and most of the leading Peers are invited. The Earl and Countess Fortescue have been passing the winter at their splendid seat, Castle-hill, Devon. The Noble Earl comes to town this week to resume his Parliamentary duties. The Earl and Countess of Beverley and Lady Louisa Percy, after a sojourn of near three months at Brighton, are expected in town, in course of the ensuing week, for the season. MISCELLANEOUS. The electors of Finsbury are about to testify their marked disapprobation of the insult offered to their representative, Mr. T. Duncombe, by Sir James Graham, in respect to the opening of the Hon. Member's letters; and also to condemn the conduct of the Home Secretary in refusing to give any satisfactory explanation on the subject. The Secretary at War has decided upon the erection of five experimental military prisons, to which superintendents, selected from the half-pay list, are to be immediately ap pointed, at a salary, in the majority of cases, of 2001. per annum. Sir Thomas Fremantle, as Secretary of State for Ireland, has appointed Captain Stephen Fremantle, of the Royal Navy, to be his Private Secretary. Thorswaldsen's statue of Byron, which was denied a place in Westminster Abbey a few years ago, and which has re mained since then buried in the vaults of the Custom-house, is about to be disinterred, and an honourable place afforded it within the bosom of the noble poet's own Alma Mater, Mr. Richard Albert Fitzgerald has been elected without opposition ostensibly to fill the vacancy in the representation caused by the decease of Mr. Otway 'Cave, but in reality to " swell the band of patriots," as the Tipperary Vindicator has it, ROW assembled for the dispatch of business at Burgbquay. It is probable that the new member will, after going through the usual formalities, take his seat at the Conciliation-hall on Monday next. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. SUEERNESS, FEB. 22.—The Vulture, first class steam frigate, was commissioned on Tuesday by Captain John M'Dougall (b. 1836). This fine new frigate is of 1,160 tons and 430-horse power. Seamen and gunners have been draughted from the Excellent for her, and a detachment of the Royal Marine Artillery, consisting of one subaltern, one ser geant, and 12 gunners, are waiting to embark in her at Portsmouth. . _ _ _ The Trafalgar, 120, Captain. Martin, flag of Vice-Admiral Sir John Chambers White, Commander-in-Chief, is equipping but very_slowly, being crowded with dockyard hands. The Waterloo, 120, has been masted this week. REPORT OF THE IRISH LAND COMMISSIONERS. TO THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. .May it please your Majesty, Your Majesty's commission, bearing date the 20th of Nov., 1843, having directed us to inquire into the state of the law and practice, in respect to the occupation of land in Ireland, and in respect also to the burdens of county cess and other charges which fall respectively on the landlord and occupying tenant; and to report as to the amendments, if any, of the existing laws, which, having due regard to the just rights of property, may he calculated to encourage the cultivation of the t ' soil, to extend a bett er s yst em o f agriculture, and to improve the relation between landlord and tenant in that part of the United Kingdom, it is row our duty to lay before your Majesty a statement of our proceedings, and the opinions which our investigations have led us to form. We met in Dublin early in December, and appointed as our secretary John Pitt Kennedy. Esq., formerly of the Royal Et gineers, and resident for many years in Ireland, where he has devoted much attention to all matters connected with land in that country. Our attention was, in the first instance, naturally directed to an examination of the state of the law of landlord and tenant, and the practice under it ; and with this view we exa mined many of the assistant barristers and agents extensively engaged in the management of estates in different parts of the country, and other persons whom we thought likely to give us genersl information. For the purpose also of obtainiug evidence upon the subjects of our inquiry from different parts of the country, and from various classes of persons, we addressed the letter (No. I, ap pended to this report) to every board of guardians throughout the country, to every Bishop of the Established Church, to every Roman Catholic Bishop, and to the heads of the Presby terian Church, from whom generally we received material assistance. Numerous communications soon poured in upon us, from all parts of the country, many of them having reference to parti cular cases, and others conveying suggestions, or giving hints for inquiry; and several documents, and some witnesses were also sent to us for examination by a committee of the Repeal Association. IVe then addressed the circular (No. 2) to the parties from whom replies to our former letter had been re ceived; we also sent the letter (No. 3) to those by whom statements of particular cases had been forwarded to us, and called for several returns, to some of which more particular re ference will hereafter be made. From these various sources much information was derived before we left Dublin. After a short time we proceeded through the counties of Louth, Armagh, Down, Antrim, Londonderry, Tyrone, and Monaghan. We then adjourned to London, where we examined some witnesses, and in the course of the summer and autumn com pleted our tour through the country, having thus visited and sought information in every county in Ireland, and having at more than 90 towns examined upon oath upwards of 1,100 witnesses, the whole of whose evidence, with their names and descriptions, will be found in the Appendix. We have thus obtained information from persons of every class and condition of life, and have caused indexes to be prepared in such a form as will afford a ready means of reference to any part of the evidence which has been thus taken We explained, in the letter before referred to (No. 3), the principle upon which we should feel it our duty sometimes to investigate individual cases, and to hear complaints, for which it was wholly beyond the scope of our commission to afford any remedy. Many such statements have been made to us which, al though each of them may probably relate to a single case, yet, taken together, would, if well founded, furnish evidence of some system calling for alteration and amendment. individual, lvith hwiemf,elatn and t a o ff u o r r d d u e ty v , er a y s o f p ar po a r s tu p n os i t s y ib f l o e r , to Whenever the evid ence h a d reference to the conduct of an nc explanation. c° m m u ni The statements forwarded in reply to our circulars ( Nos. 5 and 6), by those who did not consider it necessary to tender themselves for examination, we have inserted in the Appendix (omitting such passages as appeared to us irrelevant; and we have taken care, by a note in the margin of the evidence, to enable a reference to be made at once to the explanation, and a judgment to be thus formed as to the real state of the case. In the great majority of cases, this course of proceeding has appeared to give satisfaction to the parties concerned ; but, in some very few instances, individuals have declined to give any answer to allegations which they designated as calumnious or absurd, and have therefore left us no alternative but to report the evidence without any explanatory statement. Previously to our leaving Dublin, we had prepared and cir culated a paper of queries ( No. 4), with a view to point atten tion to those subjects to which our examination would be prin cipally directed. In the selection of witnesses for examination we were guided by the recommendation of the board of guardians or of the clergy and others, made in consequence of our circular; we also examined numerous persons who tendered evidence, and sought out others from whom we thought that we might derive useful information. We had with us also a full register of all the documents and letters that had been sent to us, with complaints or suggestions —to all of which we gave such attention and made such in quiries respecting them, as, in the best exercise of our judg ment, they seemed to require. In addition to all this, we saw and conversed with a great number of persons, at different places, whose examination upon oath we did not think it proper to take, either on account of the vagueness of their statement, or of the length of time that had elapsed since the facts referred to had occurred (10, 20, or even 40 years), or because, admitting all their assertions to be correct, we found they could not afford materials towards form ing a just conclusion upon the subjects referred to us. The evidence has run to a great length, and contains neces sarily very much of repetition and sameness. But we were willing to subject ourselves to criticism upon this account rather than to expose ourselves to the more serious charge of having made a partial selection, either of persons to be ex amined, or of the places or subjects to which our evidence should apply. Our object was to present a general view of the state of the country, with respect to the occupation of land, and this could only be done by frequently putting the same question and making similar inquiries in different places. Before entering upon any detailed statement of the result of our inquiry, we think it may not he uninteresting or unin sti uctive to give a slight sketch of the manner in which landed property in Ireland has been dealt with for a long series of years; and we believe that such a review is important to a clear understanding of the subject, and to the successful investi gation of the sources from which many of the present evils have sprung. In the civil contentions which at various periods and during many centuries disturbed the repose of England and Scotland, property gradually passed from the feudal tenure of former times to the more civilised relation of landlord and tenant, as known to our present law. It is for us briefly to show how different has been the case in Ireland. Without entering at any length into the history of the past, we cannot avoid noticing a few prominent matters which exer cised a material influence in producing the existing relation of landlord and tenant. We allude to the confiscations and colo nisations of Elizabeth and James—the wars of Cromwell— and, lastly, the penal code. The first of these led, in many instances, to the possession of large tracts by individuals whose more extensive estates in England made them regardless and neglectful of their proper ties in Ireland. Again, the confiscations of the lands of O'Neill in the north, and Desmond, in the south, were followed by the plantations of Ulster and Munster; the extensive settlement of Scotch and English in the counties of Ulster has introduced habits and customs which give a different character to that province from other parts of the island. Hence also is supposed to have arisen the system of tenant-right, which, as forming a singular feature in the relation of landlord and tenant, we shall have occasion afterwards to notice. In Munster the plantation was more imperfectly carried out, and a class of undertakers, unac companied by those followers whom they were equally bound by the terms of their grant to introduce, became the landlords of the native peasantry in many parts of those districts, pro ducing, for that reason, comparatively little change. The adventurers who obtained debentures from Cromwell, formed, for the most part, a small proprietary; and, being generally resident, exercised an influence on the relations of society different from that produced by the large and absent grantees of former reigns. These confiscations were followed at a later period by the enactment of the penal laws, which, affecting as they did, the position of the Roman Catholics as regarded landed property, must have had a very general influence on society in such a country as Ireland. The;e laws, both in their enactment and in their subsequent relaxations, have affected materially the position of occupier and proprietor. They interfered with almost every mode of dealing with landed property by those who professed that religion, and, by creating a feeling of insecurity, directly checked their industry. The Protestant landlords also suffered indirectly from the operation of the same laws ; for, in letting their estates, they were, to a degree, confined in the selection of their tenants, to those who alone could enjoy any permanent tenure under them, and were exclusively entitled to the ,elective franchise. Many landlords parted with the whole, or a great portion of their property, for long terms, and thus avoided all immediate con- . tact with the inferior occupiers, so that all the inferior duties of a landlord were left for performance to a middleman. The latter, on the ether hand, in the favourable position in which the laws had indirectly placed him, as regarded the proprietor, dictated very frequently his own terms to the landlord ; and restrictive covenants against subletting or subdividing were seldom inserted. About eighty years after their first introduction a relaxation of these laws took place. Among many measures professedly for the improvement of Ireland, an Act was passed in 1771, which allowed Roman Catholics to take a lease for sixty-one years of not less thaw ten acres, or more than fifty, of bog, with only half an acre of ara ble land for the site of a house, but not to be situated within a mile of a town ; and if it was not reclaimed in twenty-one years, the lease to belvoid. In 1777 it was enacted that titles tot hitherto litigated should not be disturbed, and Roman Ca tholics were allowed to take leases for any term under 1,000 years. In 1782 they were allows(' to aequire freehold property for lives or by inheritance. and in 1793 , was passed a further enactment, which materially affected the position oflandlord and tenant. The 40s. franchise was bythat A c t extended to Roman Catholics ; the landlords and the •middlemen- then found the importance of a numerous following of tenantry, and subdivision and subletting, being by this law indi rectly encouraged, greatly increased. The war with France raised considerably the profits of the occupier, who was thus enabled to pay a large rent to the mesne lessee. These causes produced throughout the country a class of intermediate proprietors, known by the name of middlemen, whose decline after the cessation of the war, and the fall of prices in 1815, brought with it much of the evils we have witnessed of late years. Many who, during the long war, had amassed much wealth, had become proprietors in fee ; others, who had not been so successful, struggled in after years to maintain a position in society which their failing resources could not support. Their sub tenants were unable to pay " war-rents." The middleman himself, who had come under rent during the same period, became equally unable to meet his engagements. All be came impoverished ; the middleman parted with his interest or under-let the little land he had hitherto retained in his own hands; himself and his family were involved rapidly in ruin. The landlord, in many cases, was obliged to look to the occupiers for his rent, or, at the expiration of the lease, found the farms covered with a pauper, and, it may be, a superabundant population. Subsequently, the Act of 1829 destroyed the political value of the 40s. freeholder, and to relieve his property from the burden which this chain of circumstances brought upon it, the landlord, in too many instances, adopted what has been called the " clearance system." What we have thus written will suffice to show how extra ordinary have been the changes which property has undergone in Ireland, how much it has been affected by extrinsic events, and by causes unconnected either with the natural circumstances ofthe country or the people. With a view of bringing more clearly under notice the posi tion in which the questions referred to us by your Majesty's Commission now actually stand, it may be useful, in the next place, to take a short review of the inquiries which have been carried on upon subjects connected with the social condition of Ireland, by Committees of Perliament or by Commissioners spcially appointed. If we may venture, without presumption, to make any re mark in the nature of criticism upon the reports of those from whose labours so much valuable information is to bd derived, we hould say that in many of them too much reliance appears to -