The Sun.
London, England, 1848-04-13 00:00:00

DUBLIN UNIVERSITY.

At the conclusion of an ably-written article on the
much vexed question of tenant-right, the Dublin
University Magazine thus SUMS up the subject:—
"As to the tenant-right of Ulster, from which we
have
been led away by these considerations, so far as it
rests in occupancy, we do nct see how it would be pos-
sible, even if expedient, to legalise such a right, ciin-
sistently with the spirit or theory of our law. We
believe the respect shown to old, respectable tenants—
even though they should not have been on the land
through three successive devolutions of the reversion—
to be just and expedient. We would wish, so far as we
can influence landed proprietors in Ireland, to recom-
mend to their imitation the practice, in this respect,
not only of men like the Marquis of Londonde-ry, in
Ulster, but of others, such as Sir William Somerville, in
Meath, and of many other landlords elsewhere, with
whom the claim of being an old tenant on the estate is
virtually as much respected as a claim of copyhold. But
even if it were possible to legalise those claims, and by
law to turn them into titles, we would not desire to see
the present kindly relations of the parties put on that
footing; fur it is in the kindness and mutual confidence, I
and in the wholesome power of control, guaranteed by
the system, as it at present works, that its main social
advantage consists. While we would, therefore, desire
to see the occupancy tenant-right of Ulster, as it really
exists, with its immemorial incidents of discretion and
control, on the part of the landlord, practically recog-
nised, we can see no means of promoting its adoption
otherwise than by the force of opinion, and by the gene-
ral inculcation by precept and example, of the landlord's
golden rule—' Live and let live.'
" But so far as the custom rests in improvements
made by the tenant, it ought, if possible, to have the
force and sanction of law. We need not enforce the
justice of the tenants' claim to compensation for having
increased the value of his land; he ought to have his
share of the additional wealth called into existence by
his capital applied to the land furnished to him by the
owner. We need not dwell on a principle recognised
by three successive Governments, and which must soon
become law. We may observe, however, that any mea-
sure for this purpose must necessarily be encumbered by
machinery; that the measure now before Parliament
will, probably, require revision; and that of the various
plans hitherto put forward, that suggested by the Irish
Council seems capable of being carried into effect with
least collision of interests and least vexation. Let us add
also our opinion, that any measure of that kind ought
to be without prejudice to existing customs, and to such
special farming contracts as landlords and tenants may
think fit to devise for their own advantage. For our
own part we believe that the man who would not im-
prove on a forty one year lease, at a moderate rent,
would not improve on a perpetuity; and wherever the
power to grant such lease exists, which the Legislature,
we think, might safely extend to all eases, we strongly
recommend both landlord and tenant to make their agree-
ment for themselves.

" Such are our views of tenant right as it really exists,
and as it may, in one of its aspeets, be legalised. Ma-
chinery- for determining rent, we will not discuss, any
more than machinery for determining how much the
traveller ought to give to the highwayman. The owner
alone has a right to say how much he will take for the
use of his property. Poor rate and the ordinary laws of
demand and supply are sufficient guarantee. that he will
not henceforth get more than is reasonable; and the fate
of many hundreds of puisne creditors will probably,
before another year shall have passed, render it as im-
practicable as inexpedient for an Irish landlord to inca-
paeitate himself for his duties by incurring debt."
In another article, entitled " The Irish Crisi.s—the
roor-law," the Dublin University runs amuck
against. the Irish Poor-law with all the un-
reasoning ferocity of an insolvent landholder.
The French Revolution of 1848 is attacked uniterci-

ullv, but the writer, nevertheless, predicts that it
will be attended with advantage to England, because
there will, in consequence, once more spring up
amongst us " that good honest English hatred of
French politics, French morals, and French_ prin
ciples." We protest against any attempt at exciting
feelings of " hatred" between nations after this fashion.
It is the old trick of the aristocratical party who wish
to excite war between nations, because war gives to

them patronage ; but the trick is seen through, and if
there is to he a war it will not be a war of nations,
but a war of opinions and principles. The war will be
between tho principles of oligarchy and those of demo-
cracy, and there will be men of every nation under hea-
ven found in the ranks of each of the opposing armies.
We fully agree, however, with this writer in his con-
temptuous indignation at the manner in which Briti,h
interests were everywhere sacrificed to Orleans' in
terests by the Earl of Aberdeen, who seems to have
&en solely ambitious of being considered as
" head clerk to M. Guizot." " A Third Even-
ing with the Witchfinders" is a strange chap.
ter in the history of human credulity,
and " Fletcher's Studies of Shakspere," a delightful
review of a delightful work. The " White Rose of
Muskerry" is continued, and we hare the first part of
" An Account of the Latter Days of of the Hon.
Richard Mar3ton, of Dunoran," which prumises well.

DOLMAN.
Although we can say scarcely anything in com-
mendation of the epistolary communication respecting
the late " French Revolution," with which communi-
cation for April Dolman begins, we are rejoiced to find
that in the general pcean of joy which has greeted the
newly-installed Provisional Government, the voice of
the Roman Catholics of England is audible. " The
interests of Catholicism," says the writer, " far fromT
stffering, will in reality gain by the late Revolution.
The contribution is marred by its being restricted
entirely to vague comments, and ineffective generalities.
is tb. continuation of a serial, " The Adventures of a
Schoolbly are capital. We are rejoiced to find the
writer adding his experiences to those of so many of
his predecessors towards the abolition of the brutalis-
ing. systems of fagging and bullying. Another
serial is continued, namely "The Golden Age
of Merry England," and the
one entitled a " Mixed
Marriage" is brought to a conclusion. The article,
however, most in unison with the character of Dol:
man's Magazine, as the organ of the Catholics, is un-
questiona.bly the little essay called " )./lodsri;
Hagi-
ology ;" it is conceived in a beautiful spirit, a spirit
(employing the word as an adjective) strictly Ca-
tholic. Beyond all this, there are literary criticisms
and some fragments of ecclesiastical intelligence.