The Sun.
London, England, 1849-08-23 00:00:00

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LONDON, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 1849.

A project has recently been brought forward
which if fully and judiciously carried out is calcu-
lated to be productive of the most beneficial results
in Ireland. The great problem to be solved is to
ascertain the best mode of affording immediate and
profitable employment for the labouring population
in that country, and the first step to the attainment
of that great desideratum is to provide certain and
remunerative returns for the amount that may be
invested, so that the capitalist may be induced to
direct his attention to that much neglected land.
Ireland is eminently an agricultural country, and it
is by increasing also atural fertility of the soil, and
couL cne oujeci, c n. oe prumuLeu. xor pur-
pos e the best energies of the tenant-farmers must be
stimulated to the utmost ; they must be induced
to co-operate with all their energies, to
spare no exertions not only calculated to
render their holdings not only as productive as
possible fur the time being, but also tending towards
their permanent amelioration. These exertions can-
not be relied on unless the parties have an adequate
interest in the soil, so that they may be certain
that they themselves or their families will enjoy the
fruits of their labours—that they will not be ejected
from the lands which they have improved, or, what is
almost equally objectionable, be compelled to pay
higher rents in consequence of the beneficial results
of their own industry. We have it on the highest
authority—that of the Commissioners appointed to
inquire into the law of landlord and tenant in Ireland
—that the peasantry, if fully satisfied on these points,
would spare no labour to improve the value of their
holdings ; but, unfortunately, but little encourage-
ment has hitherto been afforded to them, and the
mutual distrust entertained on the subject has
bad the effect of completely paralysing their exer-
tions. The comparative prosperity of the northern
province is mainly ascribable to the system of
" tenant-right" in operation in many districts, a
system which has invariably proved beneficial to all
patties concerned, as well to the proprietors as to
the occupiers of the soil.
The recent movement by the Corporation of the
city of London, under the auspices of the respected
Loan MAyon, has naturally directed the public at-
tention to this most important subject. A brief in-
veztigation will safisfy any unprejudiced inquirer
that there is, perhaps, no other country where there
are more favourable opportunities for the profitable
investment of capital than in Ireland. The soil is
naturally productive, and capable of being brought to
the highest degree of fertility by the judicious
application of labour, and that labour is a mere
drug in the market, which may be procured
to any extent required, at a cheap rate ; and
yet the land is permitted to remain waste
and barren, or, if nominally under tillage, not
half cultivated. While the labour is suffered to re-
main idle and unproductive, a useless burden on the
national resources, in place of creating national
wealth, and these untoward results follow from an
unfortunate combination of adverse circumstances,
the rich mine of wealth existing in the thews and
sinews of the labouring classes remains neglected and
uncared for. At a future period, when the benevo-
lent exertions of those philanthropic persons who are
now agitating the question have been rewarded with
well-merited success, our children will wonder at the
folly and apathy of those who remained inert and
slothful, vainly lamenting the poverty of their coun-
try while so many elements of wealth and prosperity
existed at their very thresholds.
We have now before us " Proposals for the
formation of a Society under the auspices of
and in connexion with the Corporation of the city of
London, for the employment of the Irish People, and
the elevation of their National Character," in which a
new principle is suggested, by the operation of which
a safe and gradual change may be effected in the
economical arrangements of the Irish people, and by
which an intelligent and active yeomanry, possessing
the absolute property of the lands they cultivate, may
eventually be obtained. This great desideratum, it
is said, may be obtained by a system of "freehold
assurance," as it is termed, judiciously combining the
principles of life assurance, with fee-farm
tenure of
land,. Mr. WILLIAM BRIDGES, the founder of the
very able
sy stern, long since explained his views, in a
pamphlet, on "The Extension of the Principle of
Assurance to Tenancy and Colonization,", and more
recently in "Three Practical Suggestions for the Colo-
niz ition and Ile organization of Ireland."l- The details
are also set forth very cleerly in an article on "Free.
hold Assurance and Colonization," in:the July number
of the Westminster Review--to all of which publica•

vehold Assurance. The Extension of the Prin.
seurance to Tena•Ty unrl Colonization."
iiy .Wi jam Bridges. L)nelon : Fisher, Son, and
CO. 18,13.
‘;TCree nu:ticll Suggestions for the, Colonization
and
Uereon of Ireland." By William Bridges.
yo donrliailliere. 1849.

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