The Express.
London, England, 1846-11-03 00:00:00

that they might took over the new farms, 'Janie they cnat los
for them, or were placed on them: and whenrac a reasonable objet- I
dab was made, the divisions were reemstaceed and altered accord-
ingly. It took ahout three years to eecorniniab the dicndon,
dim
upwards of twenty thousand acres Ina bc arranged and
tributed. Altogether it was a dig, cult task. and much thwarted by
the people, as they naturally did not She that their old ways should
be disturbed or Interfered not were they disposed, as
taste
yet,
to abandon the Rundale spfmn. They Jul not seem to have
and
for simple plainalealing, or that matters should be put straight
made easy of apprehension.
It is difficult to know where to stop with such
extracts as these, because they are not only interest-
ing in themselves, but most valuable as examples
to a class which, more than all others, needs
enlightenment as to the true course they ougous
ht
to pursue in the very responsible and precari
position wherein they now find
th
themselves. Such
examples encourage while they teach. They are e
unadorned, matter-of-fact history of successful ex-
periments upon Irish peasantry under the worst cir-
cumstances. "Go thou, and do likewise," is the
equally humane and wise exhortation to Irish land-
lords, palpably deducible from these pages.
The opposition made at first by the people to the
new system, with the expectation of tiring out the
patience of Lord George Hill, and defeating his
aa plans,sing,
is described es having been very vexatious and
but with only one recourse to violence.
This was attended with a ludicrous discomfiture of
the assailing party. Fer.ces and ditches were
and
or-
dered, with a view to divide farms pperly,
prevent confusion. " Fearless wanderers" had to be
engagyd for the purpose •, but the native peasantry
came in the night and filled up the ditch that was
dug in the day. They were soon waylaid, and made
prisoners; bat they all struggled away, and escaped,
except one who was held by the wheelwright who
managed his lordship's shop. With such inex-
haustible energies,. however, did this one culprit
struggle to tear himself away from the powerful
grasp which held him, that, by the time he was
safely lodged in the barracks, " not a particle of dress
was left on him except his cravat and shirt-collar !"
After this interruption, the divisions of the
townie
were settled
without airy further opposition. The benefit tenants was so
very evident on that port in the estate where the Rundale systiaa had
been abolished, that thiec on that part where
the property where it war
still in force became preming, sad even annoying to have their land
divided la like ex-airier ; same of them even pleading with the agent,
Maine they had paid their rent, they considered they had as good a
right to have farms cut out for them as those who enmity enjoyed the
advantage.
Notwithstanding the fact of the great varieties in
the quality of tlyi land (the only rational exeusa for
the divisions and scatterings of small properties), the
peasantry had at length allowed themselves to be
persuaded that it was better that in the ordinary
operations of tillage their carts or horses should
travel over only 5,120 miles under the new system,
instead of Cie prodigious number of 18,660 under their
old system of Rundale :
Wherever the mounotins were taken from the people, enough o
grazing was given to them for their own cattle. But in every case,
where any of the arable land. or a part of their new divisions way re-
quired by Lord G. 11111, the full amount of Meant-tight was given for
it to the tenant from whom it was taken, and it was allowed to be
valued by two of the neighbours, which being done, the purehme-
money wan forthwith paid. The dividing of the land in thisnikl and
remote district would :lever have been accomplished without serious
C0U11310036, had not tile people felt fully sausfied that there w.is every
disposition t 1 keep faith with them, and to give them the utmeat fair
play. Their complaints, grievance., and oli,ecUceie were all patiently
listened to, tespected, inveatUrated, and, If well-tumbril, redrmard.
Some of shun were u,,wanla of twenty sears' 'dandily, where bellies,
associated with a strong Amnon, had usurped pomession of land.
Premiums for industry were now offered, with a
view to stimulate exertion, and avoid the bad effect of
distributing alms. A list of premiums for fencing,
draining, to: the cleanest cabin, the best bed, &c.,
was therefor;: printed and eireulatcd. Bit during
the whale of the first year, "not a single individual
could be induced to compete for the premiums, the
people thinking it all a hoax." They felt convinced
that no landlord or great gentleman "would be such
a fool as to give his money merely to benefit others !"
They, therefore, considered themselves as too knowing
to be taken in, and laughed at the proposal.

- -
In 15 40. the tenants observing that any promise made to them was
strictly tuliliicd, acquired oat::. hiker, and some thought they might, at
all events, try the thing. That year, therefore, there were thirty-six
competitors for the premiums, which amounted to 401. is. 6,1., and
were V't alrly awarded by the judges that they aimed general attia-
fai.tion. In 1811 the competitors were forty in nmuacr, owl the MUM
g.ren 47/. 2.. nd. In 1441 to y were increased to eighty-f air, being
more thon doable the number of the preredhsg year ; 11111011 M of
premiutm being 4W. :la In 1443 the candidates were 2.i0, and the
amount of money 610. In 1541 the number of couxpetitors
was 219, and the amount of premiums 60f.
- - - - • •

In furtherance of these premiums his lordship ac-
knowledges having derived assistance from the liberal
grants of the London Irish Peasantry Improvement
Society.
A sshool-honse has been erected, for adults as well
as children; and the females "who are permitted to
attend this school are taught needlework." A very
necessary instruction, since all the women's clothes
used to be made by a village tailor. We earnestly
trust the expression of " who are permitted " does not
refer to any exclusiveness on the score of religious
persuasion. The whole of the peasant population is,
we believe, Catholic (it was so in P 437) ; and we have
been led to express the above apprehension, ground-
less, very probably, from being informed that " a
resident minister of the Church of England performs
Divine service morning and evening each Lord's-day
in the school-room." We gladly turn from this pass-
ing, doubt to one of the best facts in the book—the
one, indeed, upon which all the others are founded,
or upon which they revolve—it is the signature after
the Notice to Tenants, by " their sincere friend and
latirMrcl, George A. Hill.
The conclusion of the compilation is appropriate
and affecting, and is entitled " Thoughts on Emigra-
tion, suggested by the foregoing Facts." After show-
ing what may be done with dreary bogs, and moun-
tains, and little r,lcky spots of fishing islands, inhabited
by a people in the worst state of destitution, such a
landlord is well entitled to be heard in his humane
denunciation of the constant tide of emigration which
is flowing from Ireland. At home there is wealth
enough in the soil, with abundant hands able and
eager to cultivate it. Why should the Irish be driven
thus constantly into exile? Why should England
encourage the " national suicide ?' Why should the
people of Ireland be subject by hundreds and thou-
sands to these "heart-breaking separations,"—to the
dangers, sufferings, and perhaps death, by fever, hun-
ger, or shipwreck during long voyages iu shamefully
inadequate ships, with the chances of every cruel
hardship and privation when they arrive at their
destined wilderness in a strange land? It is not well
—it is not wise. There is no sort of necessity or good
in its costinnance. There is every reason in nature,
in humanity, and in sound policy, which is the wealth
of nations, that it should speedily cease. How much
longer will England prefer wasting her own resour-
ces where she might immensely increase her revenues ?
The inherent wealth of Ireland may be regarded as
bullion locked up in vaults
-beneath the earth, of which
statesmen keep the keys.