The Express.
London, England, 1847-02-23 00:00:00

APPLICATION OF THE DRAINAGE A.

The following elucidation of the Drainage Act is
copied from a recent number of the Gardeners' Chronicle
and Agricultural Gazette.—lt will be found of very great
utility both to landlords and tenants.
I. So much misapprehension seems to prevail, both
with respect to the advautages resulting from borrow-
ing money under the provisions of the Land Drainage
Act, and also as to the proportion of the annual pay-
ments towards the extinction of such debts, which
proprietors and their tenants ought respectively to con-
tribute, that the succta,ling observations may possibly
be acceptable to those of your readers who are interested
in the subject. —2. As everybody knows, the drainage com-
missioners, in return for each 1001. advanced by them, are to
receive au annual payment of 61. 10s. for 22 years, on the expiry
of which period the debt is cancelled. Of this sum 61. 100., one
half may be regarded as simple interest at 31 per cent.while the
other moiety, if suffered to accuraulat, with compound interest
also at the rate of 31 per cent.,will, immediately after the 22nd
payment, amount to 1001. 3s. 11d., and thus somewhat more
than extinguish the debt. (3.) The act being intended as a
boon to the agricultural interest generally, arid by way of
compensation for a measure which the majority of that body
looked upon as injurious to them, its projectors unquestion-
ably designed that all concerned, both proprieton and
tenants, should participate equally in the benefits resulting
from it. These benefits are of two kinds ; first, such as
arise from the increased productiveness of the land ; and,
2ndly, those consequent on the low rate of interest charged
by the government fur its loan. It is evident that the
advantages which the former class will ultMattly confer
on proprietors, whose interest in the soil is permanent, must
be greater than those derivable from tnem by tenants,
during their temporary occupancy of their farms; but as
this result is not peculiar to improvements effected by means
of the government loan, it is unnecessary to make any
further allusion to it in this place, and 1 16211, therefore,
confine myself to pecuniary matters. (4.) A proprietor
can at present, on the security of his estate, and without the
aid of government, borrow money at 4 per ant., and, very
generally, charges his tenant 1 per cent. mere than he him-
self pays. Part of this additional per tentage is nee, warily
expended in stamps and legal documents ; bat in order to
make the ease appear as favourable as possible to the pro-
prietor, I shall assume that he reaps the whole benefit arising
from the superfluous impost. Under these eirmtmstances,
his account for each 1001. borrowed w ill, at the end of 22
years, stand thus :
Kum borrowed /100 a 0
Value of an annuity of CI for 22 years at 31 per °NIL paid
by the tenant, and therefore to be deducted from the
above sum

Baena still doe by proprietor
If the annuity had been calculated at 4 per cent., the un-
liquidated balance would have been G 5/. 15a. Old. (5.) Com-
pared with the details of the preceding system, the advan-
tage which accrues to the proprietor, and the profit or loss to
the tenant on each 1001. borrowed from government, varying
as they necessarily do, with the share of the annual payments
which the parties severally contribute, will appear from the
following statements. As an apology for the introduction of
the first three cases, I must mention that some proprietors
have reused to apply for a share of the loan, unless their
tenants agree to provide the whole of the annual payments.
Case IV. is understood to be the one prescribed for the benefit
of his Scotch tenants by the Duke of Richmond.
I.—The Tenant rated at 61 per to at.
At 31 per cent —Gain to the proprietor by the eatinettun
of the balance due on each 100/. a
above (c) £67 13
Value of an iumulty of 41. for 22 years
gamed by the prawn tor in meow
quenee of the taunt paying the
whole interned on the num harem, ed,
and, therefore, to be added to the
above
Total gain to the proprietor £l96 19 9
Lass to the tenant by paying oi per
eentinatead of 5 per cent. for 22 year',
equal to an annuity of 11. Pee. fur
that period 4B 9 101
At 4 per cent—The proprietor's gain ealealeted as be-
fore, would have been
The tenant's kes would have been . , 51 7 11
Case IL—The Proprietor rated et (per Cent, the Tenant at
G per Cent.
At 31 per Cent. --The proprietor's gain to £l6O 16 31
The tenaat's lose la
At 4 per Cent—The proprietor'n gaio fs lB5 13 ,H
The tenant's to-e is ....... -.. atl.l
Can 111.—The Proprietor rated at 1
pee ...... the Tenant at
51 per Cen
At 31 per Cent—The idol.rietor s gain is £I6I 11
The trout ions G l6 3 34
At 4 per Cent—The proprietor's gaia Le w 166 9 11
The tenant's /On is l7 2 11
Ceek IV. —The Proprietor rated at Inter Cost, the Tenant
5 per Cent.
At 31 per Cent—The proprietor's gain is sin 9 111
At 4 per Cent.--
As In this case, the tenant pays the same rate of Intl rest
which is demanded from him under the ordinary system of
borrowing money (1), he is, of course, neither benefited nor
otherwise by the Land Drainage Act.
Cass T.—The fireprietor raid at 2 per Cent., the Tenant at 41
per Cent.
At 31 per ant—The proprietor's gain is £132 6 7
The Union'. gain, in paiying 41 Undyed
of 5 per cent., for V ream, equal to
an annuity of 10s. for that period
Eton. of proprieter'e gain . ..... • £ll6 3 1
At 4 per Pent.—Thr praprolor's won is £l34 4 II
Tenant's gala, calculateel se stove
Fseens of proprietor's gain £ll7 2 31
Cane Vl.—The Proprietor rated at 2i per Cent., the Tenant at 4
per lent.
At 31 per ant—The pr,r *18195,, gain b
The tensiV• gain 1.
Exceas of proprietor's gain
At 4 per cent —The proprietor's gain IA £ll7 2 I
The tenant's gain Is 34 4 1
Exam of proprietor'a gals
Cis Vll.—The Proprietor rated at 3 per cent., the Tenant at 31
per Ont.
At 31 per cent—The proprietor's gain I. 2lOO 0 9
The tenant' gain 1. 4B 9 104
Ernes of proprietor's gain
At 4 par cent —The proprietor's gain is SIN 0 I
The comae pin is 3l 7 61
Leona of proprietor... gain 846 15 61
Cats Proprieud and Tenant eseh Mel st per cent
At 31 per cent. -The proprietor's gain ke
The tenant's gain is
Emmet proprietor's gain...
At 4 per cent. —The procrietor'e gain u MI 8 9
The tenant's gain is 69 18 Of
Ranee of proprietor's gala ... £3l 10 61
Casa IL—The Proprietor rated at 31 per Oint, es/Tenant at
per Cent
At 31 per cent—The proprietor's gain Is 233 16 81
The tenant's gene is
lanes of proprietor's gain £l9 3
At 4 per ant—The propetemr's gale is 433 17
The tenant's gale is 66 9 II
Ens of proprietor's/Zs .214 7 7
Con Proprietor rabid at If per Oest., the Tenant at 31
Cent
At 11 per cent—Tke proprietorper gains 275 IS f
The tenant glides —a. ...... ........ 07214 91
Excess of preprislere gar ........ 3 0
At 4 per cent—The proprietor spins . £74 h 31
The tenant gates sass. 77 1 2

Excess or tenant's gala l 2 14 101
As the last case nearly equalises the pins of the pro-
prietor and tenant, it is needless to investigate the effects of
any of the other arrangements which it might he possible to
adopt. (6.) In determining the share of the annul pay-
ments which a proprietor may, in justice, &mad from a
tenant, it must be clamed that the question is not whether
the latter can afford to pay 64 per cent., or 6 per cent., or 6
per cent. for money expended tin his farm ? but is he, in
contributing at these rates, benefited to the same cetera by
the Land Drainage Act, as the form. r, who furnishes either
nothing, or only the trifling residuary portion of the 6t per
cent. required by government? The preceding data show
that the latter interrogatory must be answered in the
negative, and further, that were there no expenses at-
tending the realisation and application of the loan, the
arrangement specified in eau X. ought to be adopted.
As, however, advert:sements, inspections, r( ports, and
superintendence, cannot IT had for nothing I believe
that case IX. is the more equitable one fur both parties
—the excess of gain which accrues to bins being more
than sufficient to enable the proprietor to meet all de-
mands for the services mentioned; while the tenant will
cheerfully pay his contribution of 3 per cent. (7). The
preceding calculations, being founded on the assumption
that a proprietor can borrow money at 4 per cent., are, of
course, only applicable to the owners and tenants of alienable
estates. No one,under ordinary circumstances, will advance
capital for the purpose of improving entailed propel ties, ex-
cept at a rate of interest which preclude. the possibility of
borrowing with profit; and yet, by the provision. of the Land
Drainage Act the possessors of such territories are placed (so
far as the facility of procuring the use of money is concerned)
in as favourable a position as those whose lands arc ma-
fettered. The measure in question has, therefore. been
justly regarded as an especial boon to the holders of
entailed rotates; but I apprehend, that, in many eases,
prudential eonaiderations will interfere to prevent land-
lords so circumstanced front availing themselves of the ad-
vantages which it was intended to confer on
illustration of this conjecture, let it be eu that tbd
posaseor of an entailed estate, whose age • ch. that, a..
cording to the average value of life, he is • to survive ,er,
for 15 ;years, is requested by a tenant holdihC• fumy the •
unexpired term of which also extends to 13..0e tnappl: • '
fur a share of the government lean, in order i en buds 7:
occupied by the latter. It is evidently impro tint vender
such circumstances the landlord will live to y behefit
from the increase of rent to be anticipatederei et r
the lease, while (in contributing what has
Vs •
Slit"

has nit share of the annual Imyr.,ents to government, viz.,
fe per cent.), he will is 13 years have pail (oomputing
the annuity at 31 per cent.), fil. 10e. 81d.; or, (if at
4 per cent.), 70/. le. 7/d. fur each 1001. burrowed, either of
the sums being such as only the successor to the estate, to
the exclusion of all the other heirs, can profit by. On the
other hand, a tenant whose terns is like', to be greatly ame-
liorated by drainage, may, if a considerable portion of hie
lease is yet to run, tied it advantageous to pay the whole 61
per cent., rather than let his fields remain in their prment
condition. A careful consideration of all inch matters
can alone enable the owners and eccupien of entailed
lands to judge how far a share of the funds, avail-
able under the Land Drainage Act, era likely to be
mutually or individually b‘meticial to them,. end, by
the optuign thus formed, arrange the scale of their
respective payments. (8.) In conclusion, I may remark that,
as the certain consequence of such improvements es the
government advances are intended to effect will, on the ter-
mination of existing engagement*, be a rise of rent, in most
CAWS greatly exceeding the amount of the annual payments
demanded in return for the loan, the advantage to pro-
prietors will be greater in proportion to the shortmes of th
leases, while, of course, the reverse holds good with respect
to tenants.—A. R.
P.S.—Although, in order more fully to illmtrate the
several cases, the results ~f the annuities, to, th at 31 per
Cent. and 4 per cent., have been inserted in the preceding
paper, it will be seen that the general e insequeneca are not
materially affected by the difference of the rates.

IRELAND.
DUBLIN, Fro. 21.
Rumours of Mr. O'Connell's death were generally
circulated yesterday, which were all based on " private
letters" which never were written, though " seen "
by a great number. Mr. Ray, of the Corn Exchange,
was kept busy answering inquiries from the old
friends of the " Liberator. The Lineriek and Clare
Eraminer resolved to produce a sensation, and
draped its inner area in mourning lines on the
authority of a letter from one of the firm of Russell
and Co., in London.
At the opening of the flare Assizes, on
Friday, Baron Richards, in his riiarge to the jury,
took a general view of the prospects of the
country, and the necessity of supporting the go-
vernment in their desire for the public relief. After
dwelling on offences for the robbery of fire-arms,
of which there were a great many in the calendar,
his lordship said : one thing is certain, that, unless
those measures are carried out honestly and with the
bona fide intention of relieving such as arc in desti-
tution, without being influenced by sinister view. or
private interest, it will only be causing a vast and
mighty expenditure of money, while, at the same
time, that which is intended as a benefit will prove
altogether a failure.
Among the presentments fiated by the grand jury
was a sum of 1,700!., being the first instalment of
322,0001. expended upon public works. So you per-
ceive the public faith will be vindicated ; at least the
amount will be issued by the county treasurer, and
then let the collectors do as best they can.
Among the parliamentary papers just issued is a
document of great value at present, being an abstract
of returns from the clerics of unions throughout Ire-
land as to the number of persons holding land, size of
holdings, &c. The census of 1841 is the basis of the
calculation. From the returns it appears that in 1841
the total population of 130 unions was 8,174,029 ;
and the total area 19,146,502 statute acres. The
number of persons holding land was 883,097, repre-
senting with their families a gross number of nearly I
four-and-a-half millions. The number whose holdings
do not exceed one acre of ground is 124,407.