The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-12 00:00:00

Qthi

LONDON, FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 1846.

The Earl of LINCOLN last night brought forward
three Bills founded on the recommendations con-
tained in the report of the Commissioners appointed
to inquire into the occupation of land in Ireland, of
which notice had been given. The manner in which
these measures were received by the House fully jus-
tified the pleasing anticipations of the Noble Lord, viz.,
that whatever difference of opinion there might here-
after be as to their provisions, every one in the House
would be united—no feelings of party animosity would

be excited, or any rivalry, except of a generous and
kindly nature, as to which would give the most effec-
tual aid towards the common object—that of im-
proving the condition of the people of Ireland by
increasing and improving the cultivation of the soil,
and giving to the tenants that security in their
investments in the land without which it was
hopeless to expect that the soil would be pro-
perly cultivated, or its improvement otherwise
than retarded. The report of Lord DEVON'S
Commission Wag presented to the House in the month
of February, 1845, and much anxiety was felt in all
quarters for the introduction of some measures calcu-
lated to give effect to the recommendations, or at
least some of them, contained therein. It was felt to
be a subject of the most paramount importance, as
through it alone the most fertile source of
dissension in that country could be removed,
and peace and tranquillity permanently restored
in our sister kingdom ; for, whatever temporary
improvement might be attained, it was impossible
to hope for its continuance unless the exciting cause
of disturbance—that which prevented substantial im-
provement throughout the country, and consequent
prosperity to the owners and occupiers of the soil,
and an increased degree of employment to the
laborious classes were removed—that want of employ-
ment, as Mr. NicaoLLs well said, having produced
destitution ; destitution, turbulence; turbulence, want of
security; want of security, want of capital, and again,
want of capital, want of employment. Remove any of
' these, and by a natural consequence, you will have
gone a far way in removing all. The great exciting
cause is the want of adequate employment. Idleness
has been called the mother of mischief, and if you
add to that leisure for the concoction and execution
of evil designs, the destitution and want of
all the comforts of civilised life, which must
attend the want of occupation amongst a class
who are dependent for their daily bread on the
sweat of their brows ; the result must be discontent
and recklessness, leading to the fearful evils and oc-
currences which have too frequently inflicted indelible
stains on the character of our Irish brethren. If
therefore no other good was to be obtained but
the increased employment afforded to the labour-
ing classes in effecting the improvements contem-
plated and promoted by the first Bill, an object of
vast importance will have been attained; but there is
little doubt that great and permanent good will he
thereby effected to all classes, and perhaps those whose
interests will ultimately be most benefited are the
landlords, whose rights some may say are unduly in-
terfered with in the present instance. Great
difficulties must attend the introduction of any
measure dealing summarily with the rights
of a vast and important body of our countrymen, the
owners of the soil, rights which have gene-
rally been considered inviolable and sacred. The
members of the several branches of the Legislature,
by whom this interference must be approved and
sanctioned, all belong to the class whose property is
affected, many of them thinking that they are fully
entitled to do as they will with their own ; but
a much larger proportion, we are happy to
say, are disposed to give its full weight to the
important proposition " that property has its duties
as well as its rights," and of sufficient patriotism and
philanthropy to yield gracefully a certain portion of
these rights, when it is clearly and indisputably esta-
blished that their doing so will be productive of
much benefit to the great body of the people—to
their common country. Few will be disposed to
question the statements of the Commissioners,
" that an improved cultivation of the soil and an ad-

vanced condition of the people are intimately connected
with the general prosperity of the whole empire ;"
and few can doubt that this improvement is much
discouraged by the want of some certain tenure in
the land, or the security to the tenant of obtaining
an adequate return for the expenditure incurred by
him in effecting such improvement, either in the
length of his tenure, or in a fair compensation for
his outlay and labour in the event of his
being obliged :to quit the farm within a
certain time. How to effect this object, so
desirable in every point of view, was the point,
and it is little to be wondered at that the first
measure (that brought forward by Lord STANLEY

during the last session) should not be adequate to the

purpose. Great simplicity in the machinery to be
adopted was essentially necessary; and we think
Lord LINCOLN has acted wisely in not introducing any
new machinery, but in having recourse to that which
' is already in existence, and well known throughout
the country, and which bad been recommended by the
Commissioners, viz., the Assistant-Barristers. There
are various classes of improvement cpntemplated by
the measure : two of these are essentially different
from the others, as effecting a vast and per-
manent improvement in the value of the
farms, and these we think justly are made
different from the others, by being made charges on
the inheritance, and also as being compulsory
on the landlords. Others may be made
by agreement, as farming, manuring, &c. &c.
and will be binding on the landlord himself who
agrees to them so far as his own interest in the land
is concerned. By the new Bill, the tenant is em-
powered to serve a notice in a prescribed form on the
landlord ; if the landlord approved thereof he signified
his assent, and the matter was thereby carried into
execution ; if he disapproved, it fell to the ground in
all except the two compulsory clauses re-
lating to building and thorough draining.
Notice should be served on the immediate land •
lord in person, and on all others having an in-
terest in the lands exceeding thirty-one years, through
the post-office. We think that it would be prudent to
enable the tenant, in certain cases, with the approba-
tion of the Assistant-Barrister, to effect a substitu-

tion of service of this notice on the recognised agent,
bailiff, or driver of the landlord, if not residing in the
immediate vicinity of the lands. We know,
too well the great difficulty that is found in
too many instances in effecting personal service of any
legal process or notice in Ireland, and we cannot see
the objection to having the notice served on the party
who receives the rent, or acts on behalf of the land-
lord in respect to the land. Such a provision, how-
ever, may be introduced when the measure goes into
Committee. The immediate landlord, on receipt of
this notice, will he bound to name an arbitrator on his
behalf, and to state whether be was willing to do the
work himself, otherwise an allowance not exceeding
five per cent. on building, and four per cent. on drain-
ing, is to be made.:
_

If the landlord assents, the document which em-
bodies that assent is to be filed with the clerk of
the peace, and the expense becomes a charge on the
inheritance. If the landlord objects, he should serve
notice of objection, and an arbitrator must be appointed;
if he refuse to appoint one, arbitrators must be ap-
pointed by the Assistant-Barrister and justices at
quarter-sessions. The arbitrators may ap-
point an umpire, or if they do not agree, then
he should be appointed by the Assistant-Barrister.
The award being made, the landlord has an option of
undertaking the works himself, if he intimates his
intention of so doing within thirty-one days, and the
award thus made is to be registered with the clerk of
the peace ; a power of inspection is to be given to the
landlord to see that the work is Properly done. Our
space this day does not permit a further notice, but
subject and the other
ed by the Noble
speedily return to the
uc Chief Secretary.
two Bills
introduced

b°onnd ecdoirrtieosir onfdtehnatt j'or the
urnal
TiAnzesl,etputerblifsrhoemd
itnhea Lisbon correspondent of the
Times, published in a sec
this morning,
AP me universal. The Funds
and dated Lisbon,. June Ist, says :
" The panic has bs,-°-
have fallen a further 10 per cent., 15 per cent. within
a fortnight.
" The official report of trade in the Diario of' this
day is of the most desponding character. The ma
ket continues paralysed. We are not aware of any
transaction to specify.
" Public Funds.—Small transactions have been
realised during the week. Shares of companies are
not sought. Paper money and titulos in apathy.
The * (a word illegible) are quoted from 42 to 45.
The shares of the Bank of Lisbon from 580 to 609
milreis each, being a fall of 25 per cent., and those of
the Confianca National at 47i milreis, a fall of more
than 50 per cent. since the suspension of payment."
The Algarves, it appears, have risen, and joined in
the general movement, and the Governor of the pro-
vince has retired to Albuferia, where the troop 3 are
concentrated. " This," says the Times correspondent,