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

rettentua

51V
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 the natural fertility of the soil, and
by introducing an improved system of cultivation,
that the object can best be promoted. For this pur-
pose 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 for 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
n.ent has hitherto been afforded to them, and the
mutual distrust entertained on the subject has
had 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
parties 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 MAYOR, has naturally directed the public at-
tention to this most important subject. A brief in-
vestigation will satisfy 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
th highest degree of fertility by the judicious
application cf 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 tl.e 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
naional 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
uncured 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
fully and apathy of those who remained inert and
slothful, vainly lamenting the poverty of their court-,
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 b
"freehold
assurance, " as it is termed, judiciously a system
it co of
mm bining the
prirrApl,s of liFe assurance, with afe
tenure of
J.-0.11,:. Mr. WILLIAM BREDGES, the founder of the
,stein, long since explained his views, in a very able
pa tri
; t, on " The Extension of the Principle of
its-ufance to Tcrnanv and Colonization,"* and more
r,:c..bcy in "Thi t-e Practical Suggestions for the Colo-
r iz,ti , and . ofganizetien of Ireland."
r, n
-1- The details
are also set ferth very
clearly in an article on "Free-
,
bed I Assurance find Colonization," in the July number
ot. the Westminster Review--to all of which publica.

'l' Freehold Assurance. The Extension of the Prin-
ciple of Asz.aranee to Tenancy and Colonization."
ltd ;4#llhiam Bridges. London : Fisher, Son, and
f Co. 4C43.
" TINT° Practic'il Suggestions for the Colonization
aria Be.owanizition Of Ireland." By William Bridges.
Londenf Ailliere. 1849.