The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-26 00:00:00

LORD CAMPBELL AND HIS IRISH
TENANTRY.

The Lord Chief Justice of England, who has been for
the last week visiting his extensive estates in the west
of Ireland, fixed on Monday last for the purpose of en-
tertaining his numerous tenantry at Moycullen, a place
picturesquely situated near the shores of Loch Corrib,
about seven miles from Galway. The occasion,was a
highly interesting one for the general effect of the scene,
but was still more so for the sentiments to which his
lordship gave expression in addressing the numerous as-
semblage, and for the effect which those sentiments are
likely to produce on public opinion in Ireland. The
dinner was given in the National School-rooms, where
several hundreds of the peasantry were entertained with
an abundance of excellent and substantial fare, and at

the principal table, besides Lord Campbell, who pre-
sided, sat Hon. Miss Campbell, Hon. Dudley Camp-
bell, Campbell, Esq., Rev. Francis Kenny, P.P.,
Thomas H. Barton, Esq., J. Kinkaid, Esq., George
Booker, Esq., J. F. Blake, Esq., &c.
Lord Campbell having proposed the toasts of " The
Queen" and "The Lord Lieutenant," which were duly
honoured, his lordship's own health was then proposed
by the Rev. Mr. Kenny, the parish priest.
The noble host, whose rising was the signal for re-
newed and very enthusiastic demonstrations of applause,
in responding to the toast, said—l should indeed be
unworthy of the praises bestowed on me by your reve-
rend pastor if I were not deeply touched by the kind-
ness with which you hailed the mention of my name.
The sentiments that your excellent clergyman gave ex-
pression to are worthy of the Christian pastor. (Cheers.)
They breathe good will to men, and teach us to live in
harmony and happiness. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, I shall
be delighted at all times to co-operate with my reverend
friend in everything that can contribute to your im-
provement and welfare. (Loud cheers.) He has said
—and said truly--that it was with much reluctance
that I became an Irish proprietor, and, indeed, it was a
very unexpected event in my life, but I hope that event
may lead to happiness on your part and upon mine.
(Hear and cheers.) I must confess that my connection

With you has not led to any pecuniary advantage, but
to a very heavy pecuniary loss, but I impute no blame
to you. (Hear.) You have been struggling with the

. .
dispensations of Divine Providence. First came famine,
then pestilence, and it became impossible for you to pay

your rents as you were accustomed to do ; and I am sorry
to say, gentlemen, that well-intended but unwise le-
. ._..

gislation,_ added to your calamities. (Hear, hear.) There
were measures which Government thought might be ad-

vantageous, but which proved disastrous, such as the
Labour Rate Act, upon which millions were squandered
without.affording relief, and to the permanent detriment
of Ireland. Then, gentlemen, the poor law, although
charitably intended, was not very considerately worked
out, and, in consequence, wreck followed upon wreck.
Landlords were involved in embarrassments. They bor-
rowed money, and then came in fatal succession mort-
gages and receivers, until the unfortunate tenants knew
not who was their landlord, or whom they should pay.
One said, "I am the mortgagee, pay me." Another
said, " I am the representative of the Court of Chan-
cery ; you must pay me." Then came the collector of
the poor rate, or the collector of the labour rate, and
_ _

threatened a distress, and the unfortunate tenant knew
not where to turn for relief and assistance ; so that un-
der those circumstances I am not surprised that he
should come to the determination of paying nobody at
all. But the truth is, the tenants were terrified, because
they knew not whom they should pay; they were almost

afraid to have a pig in their cottage lest it should be dis-
trained by the collector of poor rates or county cess.
But I trust those bad times have passed away. You

now know who your landlord is ; you know jour obli-
gations ; you know how much you have to pay, and to
whom, and that when you have paid the rent you con-
tracted to pay, that all the rest is your own. (Cheers.)
I trust that what your truly Christian pastor said will
not be forgotton, and that you will enjoy the fruits of
your own honest industry. Ido not wish to make large
promises, for I well know how little I can do to fulfil
your wishes and mine ; but I can unaffectedly and ear-
nestly declare, that justice shall be done, and that your
comfort and happiness will be ever near my heart.
Gentlemen, I cannot express how delighted I felt at the
reception I met to-day. I believe that three score of my
tenantry, mounted on horseback, came out to meet me
three miles from Moycullen. I rejoice. sincerely rejoice,
that your character deserves the high eulogy passed
upon it by your reverend pastor. (Loud cheers.)
Though I think many advantages might arise by the
holdings being larger than they are at present, I will
never endeavour to bring about such a state of things
by evictions or any harsh measures whatsoever.
(Applause.) I believe where emigration is voluntary—
where it is spontaneous—where, perhaps, the emigrants
seek to rejoin their beloved relatives, and to ameliorate
their condition—l believe under such circumstances it
may be for their advantage, and for the advantage of
those who remain behind, because their departure leads

to an enhanced demand for labour, and employment
becomes more fixed and constant. I believe in such
cases that it would be an advantageous change to the
tenant, instead of holding a miserable patch of land on
which he bestows his labour for a few weeks, and in
winter becomes destitute, to go where he will be a well-
employed labourer, and receive his 2s. or 2s. 6d. a day,
and would be enabled to maintain his family more com-
fortably than by holding that miserable patch of land.
When you are willing to surrender your holdings, so as
to have them conjoined with others, I shall rejoice ; but
God forbid I should ever sanction the turning out of
families who did not know where to shelter their heads
but in the union workhouse. (Loud applause.) Hav-
ing become your landlord I wish to address to you a
few further observations. In former times, the pro-
perty of which I became the owner, both in Moycullen
and in Barna, had much influence in Parliamentary
elections, both for the city and the county of Galway.
Now, gentlemen, I tell you that I never will interfere
with your exercise of the elective franchise. (Pro-
longed cheering.) I hope that you are all loyal—that
you are all attached to the British Constitution ; but as
to party politics, make your own choice, and I know
my rev, friend will never improperly interfere. (Loud
cheers.) It has been said that Roman Catholic priests
have interfered improperly in politics ; I am convinced
my rev. friend, your respected pastor, never will, and I
apprehend you shall incur no danger in conscientiously
exercising your own judgments, and voting for the
man who you honestly believe will confer the greatest
amount of benefit upon you. (Cheers.) Then, gentle-
men, with reference to another subject. I believe that
most of you adhere to the religion of your forefathers—
the Roman Catholic faith. (Cheers.) I, gentlemen,
was brought up a Protestant, and am sincerely con-
vinced of the truth of the tenets of my religion. I shall
be the last man in the world to interfere with religious
liberty, nor would I ever encourage any improper
efforts to proselytise. (Enthusiastic cheers.) Let
every man worship God according to the dictates of
his own conscience. (Applause' again and again re-
newed.) I have been long a member of Parliament, and
I have always stood up for the just rights of myt Roman
ca.
1 catholic fellow subjects, and I earnestly supported
lholic emancipation. (Cheers.) I was told that the
Roman catholics would not be satisfied with obtaining.
perfect equality, but they also require ascendancy and
exclusion. I said, however, "let us grant them all they
are justly entitled to, and if they ask for more, let us
make a stand against them." (Cheers.)Lcoo;nfewshsitohherle
are certain doctrines called "ultrainont
cannot approve of, for they involve
ancestors before the Reformation principles that your
refused to sanction,
and never ceased to resist.
tad, to be subject to a(
(Hear.)l They never would
n
allow England, Ireland, or So
foreign power. Those doctrinese have been, in some in-
stances, revived, and they are of such a nature that they
cannot expect my approbation,re nor that of any sincere
a
friend of religious equality liberty of conscience. I
am for equality, and against ascendancy.
ascendancy. (Cheers.) I
wish my Roman catholic fellow-subjects should have the
free, undisturbed enjoyment of everything necessary for
the exercise of their religion and the celebration of its
rites and ceremonials—but if they will not allow their
fellow Christians of other sects to enjoy the same privi-
leges,then, say,
I they are unreasonable,
.and should be
,
esisted. (Cries of A e never will.") Since I came to
Ireland, it afforded me sincere pleasure to find the great
mass of the people sound and reasonable in their views.
They are not bigoted—they are not intolerant, but ap-
pear willing to live in peace and harmony with all
persuasions. There is one other topic respecting which
I would wish to make a few observations—l mean the
establishment of the Queen's Colleges in Ireland. Gen-
tle men, I believe that the intentions of the English
government are most pure and disinterested, and that
no ill intentions existed respecting those establishments.
Every possible precaution has been taken to guard the
faith and morals of the students from danger. I there-
fore deeply regret that there was any opposition excited
against those establishments. I happened during the