The Sun.
London, England, 1845-02-24 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY INIORNINCri, FgR RUAR 24 1845

symptoms of improvement, in spite of many ernbirrassing and
counteracting circumstances, continually present themselves to
the view ; and that there exists a very general and increasing
spirit and desire for the promotion of such improvement, from
which the most beneficial results may fairly be expected.
Indeed, speakiag of the country generally, with some excep-
tions, which are unfortunately too notorious, we believe that at
no former period did so active a spirit of improvement prevail,
nor could well. directed measures for the attainment of that ob-
ject have been proposed with a better prospect of success than
at the present moment.
We regret, however, to be obliged to add that in most parts
of Ireland there seems to be by no means a corresponding ad-
vance in the condition and comforts of the labouring classes. A
reference to the evidence of most of the witnesses will show
that the agricultural labourer of Ireland continues to suffer the
greatest privations and hardships ; that he continues to depend
upon casual and precarious employment for subsistence; that
he is still badly housed, badly fed, badly clothed, and badly
paid for his labour. Our personal experience and observations
during oar inquiry have afforded us a melancholy confirmation
of these statements; and we cannot forbear expressing our
,strong sense of the patient endurance which the labouring
classes have generally exhibited under sufferings greater, we
believe, than the people of any other country in Europe have
to sustain.

the poor occupiers were frequently exposed to-great oppression.
The evils consequent upon such a system have been fre-
quently exposed in authentic reports, and every writer on Ire-
land has dwelt upon them.
The practice cf letting land to middlemen is now rare ; but
the system has entailed upon the country the most injurloas
consequences, and has been a fruitful source of the difficulties
which embarrass those who endeavour to place the occupation
of land in Ireland upon a safe and wholesome footing.
We must recur to this subject hereafter, when speaking more
particularly of the circumstances that usually attend the falling
in of one of those long leases held by a middleman.
Looking generally through Ireland, we believe that the
larger proportion of the land is occupied by tenants-at-will.
There has been of late years, from various causes, an indisposi-
tion in many landlords to grant leases ; and it appears from the
evidence, that in some cases, where the landlord is willing, the
tenants decline to take them out, influenced to a certain degree
by the high stamp duty.
Upon some well-regulated estates, the property of intelli-
gent and liberal landlords, who are upon the best. footing with
their tenants, no leases are given ; but we cannot forbear to
express our opinion that, as a general system, it is more for
the interest of both landlord and tenant that leases of a mode-
rate length should be granted. We feel, however, that this is
one of the points which must be left to the discretion of indi-
viduals, and we cannot recommend any direct interference by
the dcgislature.
The most general, and indeed almost universal topic of corn-
plaint brought before us in every part of Ireland, was the " want
of tenure," to use the expression most commonly employed by
the witnesses.
It is well known that the want of "fixity of tenure" has, for
some time past, been sedulously put forward as one of the most
prominent grievances of the Irish tenant.
some few of the witnesses before us have given to that term,
a meaning wholly inconsistent with any regard for the most
generally admitted rights-of the proprietors of the soil, but this
is not common ; most of them have referred to this subject in
much more moderate and r. asonable language.
The-uneertainty of tenure is, however, constantly referred to
as a pressing grievance by all classes of tenants. It is said
to paralyse all exertion, anti to place a fatal impediment in the
way of improvement.
We have no doubt that this is the case in many instances.
In some, probably, the complaint is put forward as an excuse
for indolence and neglect.
lAIrROVEMENTS.
Before we proceed further in dealing yNith this part of the
subject, it may be necessary, in the first instance, to give some
explanation of the particular expression, —" Improvements,"
—the want of which explanation would probably lead to much
misconception on the part of persons unacquainted with rural
affairs in Ireland.
It is well known that in England anti Scotland, before a
landlord offers a farm for letting, he finds it necessary to pro-
vide a suitable farm-house, with necessary farm-buildings, for
the proper management of the farm. lie puts the gates and
fences into good order, and he also takes upon himself a great
part of the burden of keeping the buildings in repair during
the term ; and the rent is fixed with reference to this state of
things. Such, at least, is generally the case, although special
contracts may occasionally be made, varying the arrangement
between landlord and tenant.
In Ireland the case is wholly different. The smallness of the
farms, as they are usually let, together with other circurn-
starlet s to which it is not necessary to advert, render the intro-
duction of the English system extremely difficult, and in many
cases impracticable.
It is admitted on all hands, that according to the general
practice in Ireland, the landlord builds neither dwelling-house
nor farm-offices, nor puts fences, gates, &e., into good order
before he lets his land to a tenant.
The cases in which a landlord does any of those things are
the exceptions.
The system, however, of giving aid in these matters is be-
coming more prevalent.
In most cases, whatever is done in the way of building or
fencing is done by the tenant, and in the ordinary language of
the country, dwelling-houses, farm buildings, and even the
making of fences, are described by the general word " im-
provements," which is thus employed to denote the necessary
adjuncts to a farm, without which, in England or Scotland, no
tenant would be found to rent it.
Under the same common term of improvements, are also
included various agricultural operations, such as draining, d .ep
trenching, and even manuring, which ought to stand upon a
very different footing from buildings.
It will be seen by reference to the evidence, that many
witnesses of various classes have spoken of the discouragement
to improvement that arises from the want of some certain
tenure in the land.
Some of these refer to the necessity for enforcing the
grant of leases, as a remedy for this evil, with respect to which
we have before expressed our opinion; while others again seem
to think that the same end will be as effectually obtained by
some legislative provision, securing to the tenant, under certain
circumstances, a fair remuneration for any expenditure made
by him of labour or capital in permanent improvements on the
farm.

We think-that no person acquainted with Ireland, or who
takes the trouble of referring to the evidence collected by us,
can doubt the importance of encouraging agricultural improve-
ment throughout the country— incluning in that term improve-
ment of the dwellings and farm buildings, as well as the better
cultivation of the soil.

Undoubtedly when a landed proprietor is possessed of an un-
encumbered estate, or has the command of money, he may
give assistance and encourogemmat to his tenants in the most
advantageous manner; and a duty belongs to his position in
this respect, which sse find to be most faithfully performed in
many cases.
In some instances the tenant may have capital which he will
readily expend upon the land, if he can only be assured that
ho shall enjoy an adequate return for his expenditure, in
the length and certainty of his tenure, or can have secured
to him a fair compensation for his outlay and labour on quitt-
ing the farm.

On the other band it not unfrequently occurs that the only
capital which the occupier of the soil possesses is to be found in
the labour of himself and his family ; if you show to him in
what matter the application of that labour may be rendered
most conducive to his own comfort and permanent benefit, and
assist him with money or materials which his labour cannot
supply, you will generally find the Irish peasant ready to co-
operate with you in effecting improvements beneficial alike to
himself and to the country.
It is because we believe in the concurrent testimony of many
witnesses that the attainnient of these desirable objects is im-
peded by the feelings of distrust and insecurity that toe often
prevail amongst the tenant class in Ireland, that we venture to
recommend tome legislative interference upon this point.
The state of Ireland in this respect has not unfrequently en-
gaged the attention of Parliament : in the years 1835 and
1836, and again in 1843, Bills were presented to the House of
Commons, of which the object was to secure for tenants com-
pensation for any outlay which they may make of a permanent
nature upon their farms.
Although it is certainly desirable that the fair remuneration
to which a, tenant is entitled for his outlay of capital, or of
labour, in permanent improvements, should be secured to him by
voluntary agreement rather than by compulsion of law ; yet,
upon a review of all the evidence furnished to us upon the sub-
ject, we believe that some legislative measure will be found
necessary in older to give efficacy
to such agreements, as well
as to provide for those cases which cannot be settled by private
arrangement.
We earnestly hope that the Legislature will be disposed to
entertain a Bill of this nature, and to pass it into a law with
as little delay as is consistent with a full discussion of its prin-
ciple and details.

'We are convinced that in the present state of feelings in
Ireland, no single measure can be better calenlited to allay
discontent, and to promote substantial improvement
throughout the country. In some cases, the existence of
such a law will incline the landlord to expend his own capital
in making permanent improvements. In others, he may be
called upon, on the eviction or retirement of tenants, to pro-
vide the amount for which their claims may be established
under the Act.

The power which we have already recommended to be
given to enable persons under legal disabilities, to charge
their estates for certain purposes, will assist in rendering
effectual the provisions for compensation here referred to, and
in providing against an undue pressure on existing landlords
from their operation.

We do not express these opinions without having come
to the conclusion from a careful examination of the whole
subject, that a satisfactory enactment may be framed for this
purpose, which should contain some such provisions as the
following :

1. A power to register with clerk of the peace, agreements
between landlord and tenant, relative to improvements on
farms, by draining, or otherwise, and on farm buildings, &c.,
with a power to assistant barrister to enforce same, with an
appeal to judge of assize.
2. In cases where parties do not agree, a power to tenant to
serve notice on landlord of any proposed improvement in farm
buildings, offices, or exterior fences, the suitableness thereof to
be reported on by mutually chosen arbitrators,
with power to
the assistant banister, on such report, and after examination,
to decide and certify the maximum cost, not exceeding three
years' rent.
3. If tenant be ejected or his rent raised within thirty
years, the landlord to pay such a sum, not exceeding the maxi-
mum fixed, as work shall then be valued at.
4. Provisions for the registration of such adjudications.„
works to be completed within a limited time from date thereof
—and landlord to have power to execute, charging five per
ecnt. on outlay, not exceeding estimate stated therein.
CONSOLIDATION OF FARMS.
The removal of large numbers of tenants or occupiers of
small portions of land from their holdings, has long been the
subject of observation and complaint.
Former reports have remai ked upon it, and adverted to the
causes that led first to the multiplication of occupiers upon the
land, anti subsequently to their removal.

- -
The Committee of 1823, in particular, when touching upon
this subject, say that during the war, partly from political
motives, in adding to the number of voters, and partly from the
ease with which high rents were paid for land, an extraordinary
sub-division of farms took place.
The Select Committee of the House of Lords in 1825 also
refer in their report to the minute subdivision of land, the
extreme difficulty of preventing it, and the number of persons
intervening between the head landlord and the immediate oc-
cupier. And they state that they observe with satisfaction
that the increasing intelligence of landlords is now endeavour-
ing to apply a gradual remedy to the subdivision of land,
and that they entertain a confident expectation, that for the
mutual benefit of both landlords and tenants, this remedy will
be as extensively applied as circumstances will permit.
The Committee on emigration in 1826 and 1827 speak of a
growing conviction (alrcdy almost universal) among the
landlords in Ireland, of the mischief of the system of an
excess of population which at-
under-tenancy, and of thetends it.
In like manner, the Select Committee of 1830 describe the
advancement of agriculture during the war, the consequent
demand for labour and augmentation of the population, the in-
creased value of land, and so the temptation to subletting.
After alluding to the wretched condition to which the sub-
division of land and an over-population had reduced the people,
their report proceeds—
" Such was the state of things so soon a 3 a fall in prices
occurred after the peace. A change then began to take place
lands. The great decline of agri-
in the system of managing
many of the middlemen, as well as
cultural produce prevented
the occupiers, from paying their rents; an anxiety began to
be felt by the proprietors to improve the value of their estates,
and a general impression was produced in the minds of all per-
sons, that a pauper population spread over the country would
go on increasing, and the value of the land at the same time
diminishing, till the produce would become insufficient to main-
tain the resident population.
" That evil became so obvious,' continues Dr. Doyle, that
the proprietors thought some remedy ought to be applied ; and
they did accordingly apply remedies, of the principle of which
I highly approve; but I thought, and still think, that those
laws ought to have been accompanied by some provision for the
poor.'
" The new system of managing lands was that of consolida-
ting farms, and bringing the landlord and tenant more imme-
diately in contact. It is stated to lead to better husbandry, to
a greater certainty of the potatoe crop, to farm buildings and
more comfortable habitations, to the gradual improvement of
the quality of the soil and the quantity of produce. Lower
rents are assumed, but, on an average of sears, larger rents
are paid ; and a race of yeomanry is likely to Spring up and to
be encouraged. These benefits are so strongly felt, that all
the witnesses concur that they are universally recognised by
landlords and agents, and are carried into practice as far as
circumstances will admit. The risk to be apprehended is not
that the proprietors of land should bo insensible to these consi-

derations, but that-there; should, in some cases, proceed with
too much rapidity.
" So far from its being for the interest of the landlord to
sublet, and so far from there existing any inveterate habit of
subdividing farms for the sake'of acquiring higher rents, expe-
rience has shown that perscnal interest imperatively prescribes
a contrary mode of proceeding. It is a mistake to imagine that
these clearances of estates have originated with the Subletting
Act, or with the statute that raised the franchise; on the col-
trarv, they existed more than ten years before those measures
had been adopted; but it is undoubtedly true that both statutes
have given motives or afforded facilities for pursuing a course
previously adopted on the ground of private interest. If the
condition of the landlord and of those tenants who remain in
p tssession of the soil are alone considered, the change is un-
doubtedly one of unmixed good. But the situation of another
class remains to be considered, that of the ejected tenantry, or
of those who are obliged to give up their small holdings in
order to promote the consolidation of farms. 7 heir condition is
necessarily; most deplorable. It would be impossible for language
to convey an idea of the state of distress to which the ejected
tenantry have been reduced, or of the disease, misery, and even
vice, which they have propagated in the towns wherein they
have settled; so that not only they who have been ejected have
been rendered miserable, but. they have carried with them and
propagated that misery. They have increased the stoek of
labour, they have rendered the habitations of those who re-
ceived them inure crowded, they have given occasion to the
dissemination of disease, they have been obliged to resort to
theft and all manner of vice and iniquity to procure subsistence;
but, what is perhaps, the most painful of all, a vast number of
them have perished of want.'
" Your Committee cannot help hoping and believing that
the foregoing powerful statement is one which describes an
estreme case ; still, there can he no doubt that in making a
change, in itself important and salutary, a most fear!'ul extent
of suffering is produced.
" The change is unavoidable, and could not have been de-
layed ; a postponement could not have averted the evil day,
which would eventually have come, and have been attended
with pressure, aggravated by reason of the postponement.
" ' Had the evil gone much further,' continues Dr. Doyle,
the misery would of necessity have increased. It was, indeed,
essentially necessary to the good of the country that the sys-
tem should be corrected, and every wise man applauds those
measures which were taken for the correction of it; but I be-
lieve there are very few people who now witness the sufferings
of the poor in Ireland, who would not be inclined to say,
that along with those acts to which I have referred, there ought
to have been a provision made for the ejected.'
" Your Committee " (the report continues), " conceive
that it is the imperative duty of individuals, of the Government,
and of the Legislature, to consider what means can be devised
to diminish this mass of suffering, and at the seine time to
secure for the country a better economic condition, pro-
moting a better management of estates, and regulating the
relations between landlord and tenant on rational and useful
principles."
And in 1832, the Select Committee on the state of Ireland,
in searching fur the cause of disturbances in that country, re-
fer to the removal of tenants from farms at the expiration of
old leases, as one of them, and add, " But the subject involves
so many important considerations, such as the rights and duties
of landlords, the obligation of tenants to fulfil the covenants of
their leases, and the claims of tenants on humane and indul-
gent treatment by their landlords, that the Committee have not
been able to discover any plan by which the tenants removed
may be altogether protected from being exposed to severe
hardship." •
Feeling this subject to be one of vast importance, we have
been very anxious to acquire correct information upon it. In
our printed queries we directed attention to the consolidation of
farms and the eviction of tenants; and in the oral examinations
we constantly addressed questions to Ike witnesses upon these
points. The enswers to such questions, together with nume-
rous explanations which such answers have called forth, are in
the Appendix.
Upon a review of the whole subject, we feel bound to express
our opinion, that there has been much of exaggeration and mis-
statement in the sweeping charges which have been directed
against the Irish landlords.
In common with the Committee of 1832, whose language we
have quoted, we feel the impossibility of providing any direct
remedy by legal enactment for the suffering described in the
preceding extracts.
The evil arises from the abuse of a right, of which the ex-
istence is essential to the maintenance of property; but, although
we cannot recommend any interference by law with the right,
it does not follow that we should hesitate to expose the abuse,
or to point out the means which, in our opinion, may and
ought to be adopted to mitigate the evils resulting from it.
A considerable period has elapsed since the consolidation
system first commenced, and the recent instances have been
comparatively few. Much, however, of the evil caused by
former clearances still remains, but we trust that the increased
care and attention given by landlords to their estates will pre-
vent its recurrence.
It is certain that the removal of a number of poor occupiers
from the dwellings and the land which they have long held,
must be the cause of much individual suffering; and no humane
landlord will adopt such a course without using his beet endea-
vours to alleviate that pressure.
It may be useful to consider the circumstances under which,
at the present time, such removals of tenants occur.
We find no reason to believe that they are usually prompted
by feelings of a religious or political character.
Individual cases occasionally arise in which the operation of
such motives may be traced ; but we think that all who look at
the evidence with an impartial eye, will concur in the general
conclusion at which we have arrived.
The cause which most frequently, at the present day, leads
to the eviction of a number of tenants on a particular estate, is
the wish of the proprietor to increase the size of the holdings,
with a view to the better cultivation of the land ; anti when it is
seen in the evidence, and in the returns upon the size of farms,
how minute those holdings are frequently found to be, previous
to the change, it cannot be denied that such a step is, in many
cases, absolutely necessary, and called for by a due regard to
the interest of both landlord and tenant.
Some witnesses, who put forward most strongly, as matter of
complaint, the consolidation of small holdings, into what they
call large farms, in answer to the further question—" To what
size were the farms brought ;" describe them as enlarged to the
extent of 25, 20, or even 10 acres. We give this, of course,
only as the general result of our inquiries. There have been,
undoubtedly, cases in which large numbers of tenants have
been removed, with a view to create much larger farms, or with
a view to the occupation of land in some manner more agree-
able to the landlord ; but these are the exceptions, and not the
general practice. In either case, the feeling that is engendered
amongst the parties removed and the surrounding population,
as well as the opinion which impartial persons will form, must
depend, in a great degree, upon the mode in which the removal
is conducted.
It now frequently happens that upon the expiration of a long
lease, a landlord finds his property occupied by a multitude of
paupers, who had obtained an occupation of a few roods or
acres, either through the want of a clause against subletting
in the former demise, or the failure of the landlord through
some legal defect, or his own neglect to enforce that covenant,
if existing. Many of these poor people are found living in a
most miserable way, and quite incapable of managing their
land properly, or so as to derive from their small holdings a
sufficient supply even of food for their subsistence.
It becomes absolutely necessary, with a view even to the con-
dition of the people themselves, as well as towards any general
improvement in the country, to make some change.
A humane landlord, finding himself thus circumstanced, if
he is resident, or if he has an intelligent and active agent, will
have much communication with the individual occupiers. He
will inform himself of their respective position and character.
He will select a su:ficient number of those best quelified to
occupy a farm, and will establish them in holdings of such size
as will enable them, with industry, to live comfortably, and to
pay a reasonable rent. He will encourage and assist some who
may be willing to emigrate. He will aid others in settling
themselves upon waste land belonging to himself, or will assist
them in procuring it for others, and, for some of the poorest, he
will find employment as labourers.
In this way he will be enabled at the same time to improve
the condition of his property, and to benefit the population
with which he has had to deal.
Instances of successful proceedings of this nature have
been brought before us, affording examples well worthy of
imitation.

On the other hand, if a landlord, finding a portion of his
estate thus overrun with pauper tenants, looks only at the
beuefit to be derived from a new arrangement of it, without a
sufficiently close attention to the effects of this upon indivt.
dual 3, a great extent of misery will often be produced.
Arrangements hastily adopted—rules arbitrarily laid down
and enforced, for the remodelling of estates, grounded perhaps
on some pre-conceived theory in regard to the size of farms—
will often be found to disappoint the expectations of the pro-
prietor, and to produce much individual misery, however lavish
the expenditure. The worst consequences may thus result
from a want of due caution and careful attention to all the
circumstances. Perhaps the agent, after selecting a sufficient
number to remain on the farm, advises the giving of a sum of
money to the rest. But it is diffiCult to say what compensa-
tion, apart from land, will be adequate in a country where
land alone affords a permanent security for food.
The money is soon spent in the temporary maintenance of
the family. They may be willing to labour, but can find no
employment.
Some of them' may be ready to emigrate, but require the ad-
vice and assistance of a kind friend to put them in the way of
taking this step Kith advantage.
Others may be desirous of exerting their industry in the re-
clamation of some waste land, but know not where to apply, or
by what means to encounter the first difficulties of such an un-
dertaking.
Thus it is, that a proceeding which under the existing cir-
cumstances of Ireland is often indispensable, may become a
source of comfort or of misery, according to the spirit in which
it is carried out.

RECOVERY OF RENT.
Our inquiries have been also directed to ascertain what is
the course most usually adopted by landlords in Ireland for re-
covery of rent against defaulting tenant!. The evidence upon
this point shows the practice to be so different in different
places that we cannot pretend to give, with any degree of ac•
curacy, a general statement upon it.
The remedies open to a landlord are, distress, action in the
superior courts, or process by civil bill, and the more indirect
method by ejectment.
As the power of distress is liable to be abused, and the exer-
cise of it, under particular circumstances, has been made the
subject of complaint, we have given much consideration to the
question whether this power could be abolished with advantage
to the tenant and safety to the landlord, and we have come to
the conclusion that this would not be a beneficial change for
either party.
The right of distrainin,g' whether derived from the feudal or
the civil law, has always been a part of the common law of
England and Ireland. It has been regulated and varied by
several statutes, and there is now little difference in the present
state of the law in this respect as it prevails in both countries.
We believe that the abolition of the power of distress would
greatly weaken the just rights of property, pat titularly with
respect to the smaller class of tenants; and we think that the
change would operate injuriously as regards the poor population,
because proprietors would be unwilling to intrust the possession
of a cabin or an acre of land to a tenant, if they were deprived
of those means of protecting themselves from loss which the
right of distress affords.
. .

Although we do not recommend the abolition of the right to
distrain for rent, yet we think that some alterations may pro-
perly he made in the law which will render the enforcement of
it less severe upon a tenant.
We recommend that the right to seize growing crops by way
of distress for rent shall be altogether taken away.
This power
,was introduced into the law of Ireland by a
statute of comparatively recent date; it is very liable to be
abused, and although it may sometimes be useful for the re-
covery of rent from a particular class of tenants, yet we think
that the evils growing out of it greatly overbalance any advan-
tage which it can be shown to possess.
The statute 6 and 7 William IV., c. 75, requires a notice
to be given to the tenant of the amount and particulars of rent
for which distress is made, but it appears that no particular
time is fixed for giving such notice, and that the want of it is
no objection to the validity of a distress.
We recommend that it shall be made imperative upon every
person making a distress, to serve, or cause to be served, such
a notice at the time of making the seizure, and that the want
of it shall render a distress illegal.
It appears to us that by the law at present
the occupying
tenant, under a middle-man or mesne landlord, is in some cases
exposed to a double process of distress. Ile ought to be pro-
tected by statute from this danger. The particular mode
of doing this will require further consideration, but we have
no doubt that it may be effected without danger to the just
rights of any party.

1 -We think that a tenant ought to have the power of getting
back his property ti at Las been taken under distress, at
any stage of tl.e process, before a sale has actually com-
menced. Some slight alteration of the law will be necessary
for this purpose.
We recommend that the costs of a distress shall be limited
and regulated by law, as is done in England by the statute 57
Geo. 111., c. 93.
And there is one further limitation upon the exercise of the
power of distress, which we think may be imposed with advan-
tage. A distress may be made by the landlord or his autho-
rised agent. It is usually made by the bailiff or driver of the
estate, and it does not appear that in practice any written autho-
rity or warrant is commonly given to the bailiff to make any
particular distress. If he is the known bailiff, it is considered
that he is the agent of the landlord sufficiently authorised.
This mode of proceeding frequently leaves too great a dis-
cretion with a class of persons with whom it ought not to rest,
and we think it of importance that the responsibility should,
as far as possible, be made to rest upon the landlord or his
agent.

We, therefore, recommend that it should be provided by
law, that no distress shall be legal unless made by virtue of a
warrant or order to distrain in writing, signed by the land-
lord or his agent, directing the bailiff to distrain the tenants
named therein, and bearing upon the face of it the date when,
and the place at which, it :s signed ; and further, that no war-
rant shall be sufficient to authori e a distress which is tot so
signed within twenty days of the time when the seizure is
made.
Our object is, to provide that the personal attention and
judgment of the landlord or the agent shall be brought to bear
upon the actual circumstances of each particular case, in
which it is thought necessary to resort to the process of distress.
We believe that, as the law now stands, any irregularity in
any part of the proceeding renders the person making the dis-
tress liable to be treated as a trespasser tab initio. We think
that some alteration should be made in this respect, and that
landlords should only be liable to an action for irregularity.
We now come to the process of
.ejectment. To enable the
landlord (unembarrassed by the niceties of re-entry for condi-
tions broken at common law) to enforce the payment of his
rent or to have back his land, was the object of the several sta-
tutes on the subject of ejectment for non-payment of rent in
Jreland.
The earliest Irish statute is the 11th Anne, c. 2, which,
after reciting the difficulties of proceeding at common law,
enacts that where more than half a year's rent is due, and the
lease contains a clause of re-entry, and there is no sufficient
distress on the premises, the landlord may serve a summons in
ejectment (similar to the declaration of ejectment in England),
without any formal demand or re-entry.
The English statute of the 4th Geo. 11., c. 28, contains very
similar enactments.
In Ireland several other statutes have been passed, viz., 4th
Geo. 1., c. 5 ; Bth Geo. 1., c. 2 ; sth Geo. 11., c. 4 ; 25th
Geo. 11., c. 13; by which several statutes an ejectment for
non-payment of rent may be brought., if a year's rent or more
be due, although there may be sufficient distress upon the pre-
mises, although there may be no cause of re-entry in the lease,
and although there may be no lease, if there be an article,
minute, or contract in writing, ascertaining the rent payable,
giving a mere title in equity.
These statutes entitled the tenant to a right to redeem, on
paying the rent and arrears within six months after the execu-
tion of the habere.
The above is a short outline of the proceedings fur eject-
ment in the superior courts. But by the 56 George 111.,
cap. 85, amended by Ist George IV. cap. 41, a landlord may
proceed in the Assistant Barrister's Court, by ejectment for
non-payment of rent, where the rent does nut exceed 501.
a-year.
By the same statute, overholding tenants whose interests
have expired, may be proceeded against in the Assistant
Barrister's Court, where the premises are held at the above
rent, the usual notice to quit being served. This statute has
given rise to some complaints.
Various returns which have been called for, both by Par-
liament and by the authority of this Commission, show a
formidable number of ejectments served, but present a some-
what different appearance, when it is seen in what proportion
of cases a decree is taken, or the writ of habere actually put
in execution.
A careful inquiry into the practical working of this statute,
has led us to think that it has, upon the whole, proved be-
neficial to the tenant.
It must be recollected for what it is that the Civil Bill
ejectment is a substitute.
It comes in the place i f a proceeding in the superior courts
of which the costs falling upon the defendant were often ruin-
ous to him. He has no difficulty of availing himself of the right
of redemption, if he is able to redeem, and he can rely upon
matters by way of defence, which without the aid of this statute
he could have brought forward only through the expensive and
tedious process of a suit in Equity. For instance, before this
Act was passed, if a landlord through caprice or otherwise de-
termined upon evicting a tenant to whom he had given a pro-
mise of rene..val, upon the faith of which promise the tenant
had expended his money, the latter could not set up these mat-
ters as a defence to the action, but the legal right of the land-
lord must prevail, and the tenant could only obtain relief by a
separate proceeding in a Court of Equity.
Upon a Civil Bill ejectment the defendant may give evidence
of such matters before the barrister, and he may examine the
plaintiff himself upon them ; and the judge, acting as a Court
of Equity, would decide the cause according to the equity aris-
ing frost all the circumstances proved before him, and at a very
moderato expense.
Upon the whole, we do not believe that we should consult the
true interest of any class in Ireland if we were to recommend
the abolition of the remedy which is given by the statute 56
Geo. 111., c. 85, and which is usually described as a Civil Bill
ejectment..

The cheapness of this remedy is sometimes urged as an ob-
jection to it. We cannot think it consistent with any sound
principles of legislation, to keep up the expense of law pro-
ceedings, avowedly fur the purpose of deterring any man from
attempting to enforce a right which the law professes to secure
to him. if such right requires limitation, this should be im-
posed by distinct and direct enactments. And further, in the
particular case now under consideration, we greatly fear that an
increase of expense would operate as frequently against the
poor tenant as in his favour.
Some amendments, however, may be properly introduced
into this :process. We recommend that in any ejectment
brought in any court, the plaintiff should be bound to serve
notice upon the tenant, setting forth the amount due, and how
made up ; and further, that in any writ of habere issued upon a
judgment in ejectment for rent, the amount claimed, together
with the amount of costs, should be inserted, and that the
sheriff should have power at any time to stay the proceedings,
upon payment of the debt and costs.
The practice which necessarily prevails under the existing
state of the law, upon the execution of a writ of habere, of ac-
tually removing parties, and all their goods, out of their houses,
is often productive of much hardship upon the poor occupier,
and sometimes leads to scenes of riot and general disturbance.
It is worthy of consideration, whether a special form of acknow-
ledgment, to be indorsed upon the habere, may not be esta-
blished, upon the signature of which by the tenants, the sheriff
shall be at liberty to make a special return of the execution of
she writ. But in such case, it would be necessary to reserve to
the court the power to direct further process under the habere,
if circumstances should render it necessary.
By the present practice, when a mesne lessee exercises his
power of redeeming under an ejectment for rent, the landlord
may be required to give up the land to him, without any occu-
piers upon it ; and it is suggested that cases have occurred in
which a mesne tenant has permitted, ssc even encouraged, a pro-
cess of ejectment agninst himself, in order to throw upon the
landlord the unpleasant task of removing a number of sub-te-
nants, so that he himself might, upon redeeming, obtain entire
possession of the land. This requires alteration.
The defendant, upon redeeming, is only entitled in justice to
have the land restored to Lim in the same state as to occu-
piers in which it was when the ejectment was brought; and
we recommend that the law should be amended in this respect.
The possession of the under-tenants, or occupiers, who were
upon the land when the process commenced, should, for this
purpose, be treated as the possession of the lessee.
Some additional words appear necessary iu the first section
of the 6 and 7 William IV„ c. 73, in order to make it appli-
cable to a species of tenancy very common in Ireland, viz., a
lease for lives, with a concurrent term of less than sixty years ;
and also to cases in which the occupier, or any person under
whom he derives, may have acquired the possession within
twenty years, permissively, or as a care-taker, or from the
mere bounty of the proprietor.
We recommend that steps should be taken at an early period
to revise the laws relating to ejectment and distress, with re-
ference to the suggestions now made by us.
As connected with the ejectment system, we have to notice
a practice which prevails in some parts of the country, of serv-
ing, periodically, notices to quit upon large numbers of tenants
holding from year to year, not with any fixed intention of pro-
ceeding upon such notices, but in order to keep up a continual
power over the tenant in case he should not pay his rent, or
should otherwise misconduct himself, and which may be acted
upon from caprice, or in case of any offence given by the tenant
in some matter wholly unconnected with the occupation of
his land. With a view to lessen, in some degree, the evil
resulting from this practice, we propose that in all such cases
the tenancy shall not be determined without twelve months'
notice.
We further recommend, with a view of encouraging leases,
that the stamp duty, in all cases where the rent does not
exceed 501. per annum, and the term shall not be less than
iq years, or more than 31 years, be reduced to 2s. 6d. ; but
that this reduction should only apply to leases prepared
according to a form to be specified in the schedule of an Act
to be passed for that purpose, and which should also provide
that all tenants holding under such leases, shall do so on certain
simple conditions, including particularly, an undertaking on
the tenant's part not to sublet or subdivide, and on the part of
the landlord an obligation to make allowance to the tenant for
improvements, either according to the mode we have suggested,
or such other as Parliament may adopt. We believe that the
revenue would gain, rather than lose, by such an alteration.
A further improvement would be made, if the practice were
introduced of describing, shortly, the buildings (if any)
actually existing, or which the landlord allows to be erected on
the premises ; and it would be desirable, that a cheap and easy
mode of registering such documents with the clerk of the
peace should be provided.
In any inquiry relative to the occupation of land, the subject
of rent and valuation must necessarily come under consideration.
We have endeavoured, as far as possible, by our examina-
tion of witnesses, to ascertain the average rent usually de-
manded in different places, and the result will be generally seen
in the evidence taken in each particular district.
But it would be idle to attempt to draw any general con••
elusion from the evidence, applying, as it does, to so many dif-
ferent parts of the country, under every variety of circtun-
stances by which the value of land can be affected.
We were glad to find that notwithstanding the great and in-
creasing competition for land, the practice of endeavouring to
fix the fair value by a close valuation is becoming every day more
general; and although very loose modes of valuation still pre-
vail too extensively, yet there is evidence to prove a growing
win
disposition to adopt sounder principles in this respect.the ap-
pears that in some cases, public boards, having
manage-
ment of estates, are directed by the Act under which they are
constituted, to advertise and let their lands to the highest
bid-
der ; we think that power should be given, such cases, to .let
land upon a fair and just valuation.
We must also notice a complaint that has been brought be-
fore us by many
They allege th:.itttnhee"reosa.ds for which the landlord had ori-
ginally received compensation, as well as rivers and water-
courses, are included the .measurement of their farms. After
careful examination, it appears to
us, that generally this cir-
cumstance is taken into consideration infixing the rent of the
farm ; still we ate of opinion, that all grounds for misapprehension
on this subject should be removed by the omission in future
surveys of such roads and rivers from the measurement on
whieh the acreable rent is computed. We are glad to find,
from the testimony of many intelligent witnesses, that the
latter practice is becoming general.
AGENCY.
It must frequently happen that the landlord cannot give that
personal attention and superintendence which, under present
circumstances, are essential to the proper management of land
in Ireland. This naturally leads us to make a few observations
with respect to agents, a most numerous class, comprising per-
sons of almost every rank of life, of various qualifications, and
upon whose conduct the comfort of a large population and the
tranquillity of a district frequently depend. We examined se-
veral agents resident in Dublin, under whose management
numerous estates are placed, some of which appear to be well
conducted; but, as a general proposition, we must express our
opinion that in cases in which the landlord is not resident it is
of importance that the principal agent should reside either upon
or near to the estate which he manages.
The estates of large absentee proprietors are frequently ma.

•
naged by a resident gentleman, who supplies, as far as possible,
the want of a resident landlord ; other estates are intrusted to
the care of persons in almost every situation of life.
The business of agents in former times was confined almost
exclusively to the letting of farms, and enforcing the payment
of rent.
Fortunately a better practice in this respect is beginnihg to
prevail, and most agents now think it their duty to acquire a
more intimate knowledge of the property and of the condition
of the people. But there is still room for improvement in this
respect.
In former times the practice of accepting bribes and
gratuities by agents, bailiffs, or others connected with the
estates, was frequently denounced, and was, we fear, too
general.
We cannot say that this has altogether ceased, although we
are satisfied that such occurrences are becoming more rare.
At an early period of our inquiry we directed our attention
to the situation of estates placed under receivers in-the Court
of Chancery or Court of Exchequer, and we obtained Some
returns showing the extent of property so circumstanced.
According to the usual practice, when a farm under a re-
ceiver came out of lease, a sort of auction was held in the
master's office, and the land was let to the highest bidder, and
as great difficulties were experienced in obtaining the sanction
of the Court in snaking any outlay or takir:g any necessary step
in the management, these circumstances necessarily-caused all
property under the Courts to be left in a very unimproved state,
and placed the tenants in an impoverished undition.
complaints on this subject will be found throughout the
evidence.
The present Lord Chancellor and the Chief Baron of the
Court of Exchequer have recently issued orders which •will
tend to remove some of the evils consequent upon the former
practice on the properties of lunatics and minors; and as the
attention of both these Learned Judges is fully alive to the
subject, we have no doubt that such further improvements will
be made as may be necessary to snake the new system work
properly for the advantage of the property and the tenants.'
Some difficulties occur in the case of properties brought into
Court to be administered for the benefit of creditors ; hint it
has been strongly recommended, and is, in our opinion, highly
desirable, that a similar system should be made applicable to
these ca,es, if the powers of the Court be sufficient - hut if
this should not be the case, we trust that the Learned Judges
Kill not hesitate to cause application to be made to the Legis-
lature for such alteration in the law as may appear to them ne-
cessary, in o: der to enable them to administer an estate for the
benefit of all persons having an interest in it.
But as an encumbered estate must at all times be managed
at great expense and at much disadvantage under the Courts,
we recommend that every facility, consistent with safety,
should be given for bringing such estates to an early sale,
rather than allowing them to remain for years the subject of
expensive litigation.

SALE OF ESTATES.
It now rarely happens that land in Ireland is brought into
the market for sale in lots of a moderate or small size. Estates
are so generally encumbered by family settlements or other-
, wise, that the expense, delay, and difficulty, which would at-
tend the dividing them, so as to sell in separate or detached por-
tions, darter a proprietor from taking this course, although a
larger sum might be raised by it in the whole.
We believe that there is a large number of persons in Ire-
land possessing a small amount of capital, which they would
gladly employ in the purchase and cultivation of land, and a
still larger number, now resident in different parts of the coun-
try, and holding land for uncertain or limited terms at a rent,
who would most cheerfully embrace the opportunity of becom-
ing proprietors. The gradual introduction of such a class of
men would be a great improvement in the social condition of
Ireland. A much larger proportion of the population than* at
present would become personally interested in the preservation
of peace and good order ; and the prospect of gaining admis-
sion into this class of small landowners would often stimulate
the renting farmer to increased exertion and persevering
industry.
We think that some facilities may safely be given towards
making out titles to land, so as to lessen delay and expense,
particularly kith reference to the searches necessary under the
system of registry now established in Ireland. It has also been
suggested that expense would be ultimately saved in the trans-
fer of property, if the memorial should contain a full copy of
the deed registered ; and it certainly appears to us, that even
if this suggestion should not be adopted to its full extent, it is
necessary, with a view to prevent fraud and litigation, that all
the powers given, or restrictions imposed by settlements or trust
deeds, should be fully set out. Every suggestion, however, for
the attainment of these objects, will require consideration by
persons of the highest professional eminence, before any attempt
shall be made to carry it into effect.
AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTION.
There is a great desire amongst all classes in Ireland for im-
provement in agricultural knowledge.
In many parts of the country farming societies have beers
established upon a large scale.
Without wishing to underrate the usefulness of such socie-
ties, we must consider as even more important the adoption of
such plans as shall give to the small farmer practical instruction
in the best method of cultivation. In many parts of Ireland
the question is not alone, as in England or Scotland, whether
improved cultivation will enable a tenant to make a better profit
or to pay a better rent, but whether the small portions in which
it is certain that, for many years at least, the land must be oc-
cupied, will enable the holder to provide sustenance for his
family, and pay even a moderate rent.
The establishment and maintenance of agricultural schools,
such as that carried on at Templemoyle, in the county of
Derry, or such smaller establishments as that at Larne de-
scribed in the evidence of Dr. Kirkpatrick—the employment of
an agriculturist who shall give personal instruction and assist-
ance to the small farmer and peasant—the introduction of a
good system of draining, of better implements, better seeds,
and improved breeds of cattle—the cultivation by spade, or at
the least possible expense, of a small farm as a model, which it
it may be within the reach of a poorperson to follow ; all these
are methods of teaching, each or any of which a landlord or an
agent may employ upon a greater or a smaller scale, according
to circumstances, and by the use of which he will lay the cure
and solid foundation of general improvement.
The most advantageous mode of making such arrange-
ments must be left to the judgment of individuals as the cases
arise ; but we wish to direct attention particularly to the
school at Larne, in which town some public-sriritel indivi-
duals have taken a few acres of land at a very high rent,
and have there had imparted by the master of the national
school such scientific and practical farming knowledge to
some of the day scholars attending as has excited a spirit
of inquiry even in Scotland, so famous for its husbandry,
which is likely to add extremely to the utility of the paro-
chial schools there.
The Committee on Agricultural Education, appointed at
the meeting of the Highland Society in Glasgow, in reference
to the high testimonial transmitted to Dr. Kirkpatrick, thus
express themselves, " We cannot but attach value to this do-
cument on account of the opinion it expresses of so many ex-
perienced and intelligent persons—as to its being practicable
to impart to young boys much agricultural instruction which
will be useful to them in atter-life—as to its being practicable to
impart it in the existing schools, and without interfering with
the course of education there—and as to its being desirable to
introduce such instruction into the parish and other elemen-
tary schools in Scotland."
EMIGRATION.
We have formerly adverted to the report of the Committee
on emigration, made in 1826 and 1827, strongly recommend.
ing the encouragement of emigration from Ireland. The fa.
vourable opinion of the Committee of 1830 has been already
stated by us.
The Committee on the state of Ireland in 1832, also propose
emigration as a mode of alleviating the distress occasioned by
the removal of tenants, and recommend the application of pub-
lic money in aid of any sum which may be given to the removed
and destitute tenant by his landlord.
The Committee of Poor Inquiry, " consider it due to the
whole community, and the labouring class in particular, that
such of the able-bodied as may still be unable to find free and
profitable employment in Ireland, should be secured support
only through emigration or as a preliminary to it." They
state, however, that they " do not look to emigration as an
object to be permanently pursued upon any extensive scale, nor
by any means as the main relief for the evils of Ireland ; but
do look to it for the present, as an auxiliary, essential to com-
mencing a course of amelioration."
The eommittee on Public Works (second report) in 1835,
on the contrary, cannot concur in the opinion that the social
disease of Ireland is produced by a real excess of population.
" It may be doubted whether the country does contain a suffi-
cient quantity of labour to develop its resources ; and while the
empire is loaded with taxation to defray the charges of its wars,
it appears most politic to use its internal resources for improving
the condition of the population, by which the revenue of the
Exchequer must be increased, rather than encourage emigra-
tion, by which the revenue would suffer a diminution, or than
leave the labouring classes in their present state, by which po-
verty, crime, and the charges of Government must be inevitably
extended."
We should be sorry to sce the system of emigration pushed
beyond the extent to which it is called for by,the population,
or forced upon any persons who do not cheerfully look to
its adoption as a means of providing for themselves or their
families • but, after considering the recommendations thus
repeatedly made upon this subject, and the evidence of Mr.
Godley, in which the different views of this subject are well
given, we desire to express our own conviction that a well
organised system of emigration may be of very great service,
as one amongst the measures which the situation of the Occu-
piers of land in Ireland at present calls for. We cannot think
that either emigration or the extension of public works, or the
reclamation and improvement jof land, can singly remove the
existing evil. All these remedies must be provided concur-
rently, and applied according to the circumstances of each case.
In this view, and to this extent only, we wish to direct atten-
tion to the subject of emigration. Since the publication of the
reports from which we have made extracts, useful regulations
have been made and carried into effect, under the superinten-
dence of the Emigration-office, with a view to the assistance of
those who are disposed to emigrate, and we think that without
any considerable outlay of public money, further encourage-
ment may usefully be given by the Government with a similar
object. Probably the most unobjectionable and useful mode
of affording assistance from the public resources, would be
to grant portions of land, at a very low or almost nominal
price, to those who could show that they are
able
ngd e andwcue tilltidva ready
it ; and it appears to us, also, that so
by themselves or their dependents, tow
eaant
wages,
settledv aa
emigrant,
gained if measures could be taken in this
common with landlords, or with the persons
country, by the Emi-
gration Office in
uponelesir desirous emigrate,taorr ival is
Canada,f or securing
slidin m
a location theinstancesionptorelimy steps
might also
pinarrov
labour at fair by which means-the
be takers in preparing land for cultivation. By the
assistance of such remunerative labour, the poorest class of
emigrants may look forward to the purchase of a spot of land
for themselves.
Much consideration of details will be necessary to give prae•
tical
others effmore usefully
to tgagnese suesin thistions, wreport.hich ntay be entered upon by
WASTE LANDS.
Connected with many of the largest estates in Ireland, there
aro extensive tracts of land thinly peopled, d affording op-
an
portunities for easy reclamation.
• Without going the length of supposing that employment for
the people upon bringing such lands into a profitable cultivation is
to furnish a cure fur the evils of Ireland, we concur in the
opinion so strongly expressed in former reports, that very great
advantages may be expected from • el* icious arrangements for
that purpose.
Undertakings of this nature will be attended with more or
less benefit, according to the greater or less degree of judg-
ment exercised in the selection of spots to be reclaimed, and of
prudence in the mode of carrying on the operation.
We do not wish to encumber this report with agricultural
details or calculations; and general statements of expends,
or of profit, frequently tend rather to mislead than to in-'
struct. We prefer, therefore, appending to this report some
notes of Mr. Griffith's (No. 7), as to the extent and nature of
the waste lands of Ireland, and we shall give in the Appendix
to the evidence, a abort account of some of the attempts at
reclamation, which we ourselves visited, and several docu-
ments relating to the subject.
Among the projects formed for this purpose, we may
notice the Irish Waste Land Improvement Company, incor-
porated by 6 and 7 Wm. IV., c. 97, authorised to raise
money by shares, to take land upon lease for the purpose ofng
reclaiming it, and to obtain a return by
state. That
Company
or selling such land its an imprered.. s
has been in operation since
e pluming
of
1 tracts lease Wren
the Act, and has taken upon
emp.oy
upon which I
taw capital has been
aim): givingng4Afamiiies.
assistance to many poor .
encouragement amid
land into cultivation; but their funds are not
by bringing such
large, and are,
therefore, limited. The evidence
their operations
of Colonel Robinson, managing director of the company, racy

1111. E SUN, LONDON, MONDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 24-1 1845.
11.............,,x•5i .--.........-....... ,
be referred to with respect to its object and progress, and a satisfied, at a time or times to be appointed in that behalf; and • In the case of the Poor Relief Act, the Legislature decided magistrates of any county having certified the necet sit} for the
ignueird,teitnotablel arvihgohtdedsiirreeettioone,maeltildo34tohielisroeuffnoartis,rifr7ipilmesp;roavned- j,
L ITEST PRICES OF SHARES
printed report of the last year's proceedings is given in the Ap- also with a covenant to pay and keep down the interest in the that in this new tax all property should be liable to the main- same, should continue.
pendix to the evidence. meanwhile ; and so as every such grant, mortgage, lease, or tenance of the poor, and that the burden should be apportioned By clause 12, the Lord-Lieutenant was empowered to appoint we feel satisfied that great advantage may be derived from
It may be worthy of serious consideration, whether the state demise, do also contain a proviso that the person entailed in between landlord and occupier, as it was considered that each an additional force on certificate of magistrates of the necessity Placing in their true light mane' facts and circumstances IN BAlinev ales BANKS, ASSURANCE, AND
might not very usefully make for these purposes, at a moderate remainder or reversion to the lands or grounds therein corn- would then have a pecuniary interest in lessening the evils of net the same ; and hitherto little known, or greatly misunderstood. e ,
rate of interest, some advance regulated within such limits as prised shall not be liable, upon hia her, or their becoming pos. pauperism, and thereby keeping down the amount of taxation ; By clause 13, to appoint an additional number for any " Whilst we have, in various parts of this report, made OTHER COMPANIES' STOCK.
Parliament may prescribe by the amount which companies or seised thereof, to the payment of any further or larger arrear . but this reason does not apply to the county-cess, which has county or district proclaimed to be in a state of disturbance ; observations in the nature of advice to some of those who
individuals may advance in aid of such operations. But on this of interest than for six months preceding the time that his or ' existed for many years, and always been paid by the occupier. and are landlords in Ireland, we trust, at the same time, to be From the Official List,
point we shall have occasion more fully to speak, when treating their title to such possession shall have commenced; and every The complaints before us were directed not more against the Clause 27, provides that the Lord-Lieutenant may remove permitted to remark shortly upon the conduct too often pun. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND imply EVENING.
of the Public Works Act. The funds which could be so re. such charge, grant, mortgage, lease, or demise as aforesaid ! amount, than against the time and mode of collection, the the force from one county to another, to remain as long as he sued by some of the class of tenants. There is frequently a
quiretl, would not, probably, be large in any one year, and yet a shall be good, valid, and effectual in the law, for the purposes 1 number and payment of county officers, and the extent of corn- shall direct. readiness amongst these to attribute their own wretched eon-
great public benefit would be attained in increased employment hereby intended, and shall take priority of II charges and en-' pulsory presentments; simply to charge one-half of the tax By clause 28, the expense of this removed face was made dition exclusively to the conduct of their landlords, some_ LONDON, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21.
for labour, in the progressive extension of productive land, and cumbrances whatsoever and whensoever made." upon the landlord would leave these subjects of complaint un- chargeable on the district to which they are removed. times with an utter disregard of truth, and almost: :.brays RA1.11.1.17.11.T5.
in the opportunity thereby afforded for the location of indus- Two important principles have thus been recognised by the 'touched. The Committee of 1830, and previous Committees, By clause 35, the expense of the force to be advanced out of without admitting, perhaps without seeing, how much of it
trious families who may have been, from unavoidable circura. Legislature, with respect to the advances of money for the im- recommended, that in all future leases a part or the whole of the Consolidated Fund. And arises from their own indolence or want of skill. nil-Mend i Amount
stances, compelled to quit their former holdings. provenaent of Ireland- all grand jury assessment be placed on the landlord; but the By clause 36, one moiety of such advances, except so much "The truth is, to use a familiar expression, that faults are Name of Company. per of Paid. I Price.
A great variety of circumstances may influence the decision Ist, That it is desirable and proper to give assistance by way , Committee of 1644 on Townland Valuation, though they as shall be for the in many cases to be found on both sides; and, considering
Z a . d .
17 2 :00. dOO
323%
Of a proprietor as to the best mode of bringing waste land into of loan towards the agricultural improvement of that country ; ! quoted at length, and apparently with approbation, the former 1. Salaries and expenses of the inspector-general, his de- how uninformed a large portion of the Irish population is, a
it
vitro,i; Aberdeeni iiii g
NI i ae• 4.'111. esi
5.,;(.171
to•sd•ti:r. 31. Esl.-5-p.e.rsh. 12050 -00 00 1100 0 0 129
cultivation. If he has capital, or is enabled to procure it, and and, edly, That in cases in which the property of individuals is reports, recommend that all tenants should have the power of puties, and clerks, heavy responsibility rests upon all those to whom the poorer
classes
“ Th (ht
ta.zriad
arti gi
oliiit
otfoalionouk),
tfo,ri i informationl tiie eis b.}, grid,‘hai
which
itehee.
social
is also both able and willing to give, by himself or a resident to derive a permanent benefit from the execution of such , deducting a proportion of the county-rate, as under the Poor- 2 And of stipendiary magistrates,
agent, continued superintendence,. he may find it best to engage works, it is just and Proper to give power to persons having I law. We have given to this recommendation our most atten- 3. And of the receiver of the said force,
condition of Ireland is disturbed is to be traced to those feel-
iliwricstiolTitnitee‘;‘Xseteiri.a.'•L. 21.1667 per sh.•loo° 0
to' 70 g g 8:72L4
a portion of the unemployed population as labourers in bringing limited interests or being under legal disability to charge such tive consideration, and we cannot concur in the conclusion at 4. And of the paymasters in the several counties,
the land into a remunerative condition before he attempts to property with the repayment of motley advanced in aid of suen which that Committee has arrived. shall be raised by grand jury presentment off each county, ings of mutual distrust which too often separate the classes
let it ; or, if he is unwilling to expend his own capital to any improvements. To transfer a burden from the yearly tenant who had county of a city, or county of a town to which the same shall of landlord and tenant, and prevent all united exertion fur tett. and Gloucester - 15000 30 o o 57
CAledoman
considerable extent, he may often do much good by placing We believe that the soundness of the view thus taken by the equitably engaged to pay it, to the landlord who had not en- relate. the common benefit. Cambridge and Lincoln -
- - 25 0 5 1 10 0 3
industrious poor PeoPle :in possession of ten or fifteen acres Legislature will he admitted by all those acquainted with the toned into such an implied contract, would, we consider, be a A subsequent Act established the "reserve force," which is "It has been truly said, that confidence is a plant of slow neatens, & prtsme„te -- 20 0 0 10 0
each, erecting, at his own expese, suitable dwelling and actual state of Irelan, and who are enabled, therefore, to ap- measure which would materially disturb the existing relations organised and stationed at a depot near Dublin; the expense growth. It is, however, a plant which will flourish well in Chester and Holyhead - 50 0 0 50 0 8
making large drains acting also as fences. He may either preciate the very great importance to the public interest, of of the owner arid occupier of such tenancies, whilst after all, of it is paid from the Consolidated Fund, except when it is Irish soil, if cultivated with patience and with care. Chichester & Brighton - - 50 0 51,4
charge a small rent, rising gradually up to a certain fixed point; the improvement of that country, and the employment of her it could produce only a very uncertain and unequal relief to the employed in any county, in which case the moiety of it is "We say particularly with patience, because we believe Churnet Valley .• ••• • • - 20 0 0 20 0 7%
or else, reserving a full rent from the commencement, he may people ; and we believe, also, that the advance of money from tenants-at-will. To relieve the tenant holding under lease, by chargeable to the district to which it is removed. that many excellent persons, having the best intentions coniseen .........
Direct Northern. - - 30 0 5
-___ if, 00'I 10 0 IY.
- !`,O 0 0 210 0 2%
allow annually large stipulated reductions for the improvements. the public treasury, in aid of these objects, under proper guards authorising him to deduct from his landlord, would be to re- The constabulary is a disciplined arid armed force, stationed towards improeingte).).ti.lirifeelecrlieitnlltagiltsi•,,,iliti.(alliNs.o:eitp•Lit,choeieillustnooloielieitaasnaitlli%:ttliiiiNee,escriotoetwed
thutiiiititilos,aministr:
Direct -'e ''i• • • ••
• • - 21 0 0 1 0 0 Ite
In either case the to ants should have a security, by leases of and restrictions, is consistent with the truest economy, regard lieve him from a burden to the payment of which he had bound in regular berracks, and, under the law, the adoption of it is
frontntTite' itrhceopuer°s el' l -
Eastern,Counties .... • 4s. per sh. 25 0 0 25 0 0 17%
industry. state of that country continually calls upon the Government to The alteration which would charge the landlord with the They perform some of the duties required from constables in progress which is made towards the attainment of those ends,
Do., 1 erpetual, No.l 5/. per ct. 613 4
03 1133
44
.},261p,u01..
But these are minutia, into which it would not be proper for make. cess in all future contracts, and also for the lands now held by England; they escort prisoners, which was formerly done by and the little result Wiliell is perceived from their most
us to enter at any length, They must ne regulated by cir- It appears to us, that the two Provisions of the Public Works yearly tenants under him, proceeds upon the theory that in the military, ; they serve voting and other Pour-law papers, anxious endeavours. Ditto, ditto, N 0.2- - -
Edinburgh & Glasgow 21. Ss: p. sh. 0 0 50 0 0
cumstances, and by the judgment of individuals. Act to which we have particularly referred, require amend- the latter case he has the power of reimbursing himself im- for vshich they are paid by the boards of guardians ; they "We would earnestly impress upon such persons, and upon Eastern Union . • .....
..,eso 0 00 10 0 0 1 190
We are desirous only of stating our opinion that, under pro- ment, so as to make them more extensively useful, and mediately by a corresponding charge upon his Lnanto attend assizes, elections, and on other public occasions; and all who have the interest of Ireland at heart, not hastily to
per arrangements, the reclamation of waste lands, whilst it gives order to carry out the apparent intention of the Legislature. Such, it must however be remembered, is not his exact although as a detective force their numbers cannot be regu- relax from those exertions which circumstances may enable Ditto,Quarter shares I is, 3(1. p. air. 12 10 01210 0 itpii
useful and permanent employment to the labouring population, We think that the advances authorised by section 32, in aid position ;he has no immediate power of determining the lazed with reference to the number of military stationed in a them to make, in forwarding the march of improvement
railti:icaalfeoefillogtrdi causesst, Eiy an . IledrOrd .•• • • - 25 0 0 10 0 1%
GrandC; r
pa liitdtoC, Junctiononier ctin.
shares... .••
11001/ . . -p
peret *
cc.c t . 1:0' 'OO 000
000 150002 1000
000 212124
will, at the same time, produce a fair return for the capital em- of agricultural improvements, ought to be made upon the same tenancy-at-will, and he may have to pay a considerable sum district, yet the authorities appear to be guided by that cir- amongst theiratpvoct:occlFiti)tgluplitelouttroisi.ecri
Ditto,Quarter Shares 101. )er et. 25 0 0 25 0 0
ployed upon it. terms which are prescribed by the Act in other cases of advan- before he is in a condition to obtain increased rent from curnstance in their distribution as a corps for the mainte-
wh"ieNlllitrillaeytith
PUBLIC WORKS. cos by way of loan, as to the rate of interest, and the time and his tenant : nor will such an operation be facilitated by the nance of peace.
Having adverted to those agricultural improvements which manner of repayment. immense mass of tenants holding at will, whose interest will From returns in the Appendix, the amount of the police we cannot disguise frone ourselves that the Irish peasant is desouthenisswestern _ 50 0 0 50 0 12
lead directly to enlarge the productive powers of the soil, im. We recommend, also, that the provisions of section 66, to unite them in opposition to the payment of an equivalent. force sanctioned under the 11th clause, and the additions inclined to look with suspicion upon all attempts of his laud- Great North of England 31.58. 100 0 0 100 0 0 187
Ditto,iti Ditto, 1114ifltfh.S„ha..re.s.....
71. percent.
2500
prove the habitations, and increase the comforts of the people; the terms of which we have particularly referred, should be Moreover, the advantage of transferring all power over under the 12th and 13th clauses, will be easily seen. From lord to inculcate new habits or to introduce new plane for the Ditto, New• •••• • • • - 40 0 0 50 El 43%
00 00
2500 00
00
939034
Great Western
we Proceed now to consider those undertakings properly called extended, so as to be applicable to all cases of advance by way county works to the landlord-a necessary consequence of the evidence of Colonel Al'Gregor it appears, that the au- management of his lands.
public works. of loan under the Act.; making him the sole cess-payer-we consider to be very thorities are of opinion, that under the 27th and 28th clauses, " Every considerate and benevolent landlord will make
The Legislature has upon many occasions, fully admitted the Such amendments would, in our opinion, only carry out the doubtful; for, in most instances, the resident occupiers, and any number of men may be removed into a county, and be- much allowance tier this feeling. He will not suffer any Guilford Junction... - 50 0035 0 0
Propriety of affording encouragement and assistance to such principle fully recognised by Parliament, and embodied in the net the proprietor, who may be absent, are the parties most come chargeable thereto, by the direction of the Lord-Lien- exhibition of it to turn him aside from any scheme of hn- Harwich - 20 001 0 0 1%
works; and the last report presented by the Commissioners of Act in question, and would undoubtedly render that Act more interested in opening new roads, or constructing other works tenant, although the number which he is allowed to appoint 'movement upon which, after deliberation, lie has determined Hull arid Selby
Public Works in Ireland sets forth in a strong light, the ire- extensively beneficial in Ireland. of immediate utility. ill, or add to such county, may have been already appointed for, to enter. Ditto, Quarter Shares - 12 10 01210 0 18
Kendal & Windermere - 25 0 0 1 10 0
ortance, in a national point of iew, of rendering efficient aid As the section 6 gives ceriain powers, hich, under our r- Upon the whole, then, we cannot advise the great change and chargeable to it. Considering the stringent limitations "He must be prepared for frequent disappointment. He Lancaster and Carlisle - 50 0015 0 0 30
to the exertions of individuals in this respect. commendation, would be more extensively called into action, to which we adverted. We believe that it would in many fixed by tire earlier clauses of the Act, upon an increase of will ocasionally meet with ingratitude and injustice ; but Leeds and Bradford. - 50 005 0 0 21%
We beg leave in this place to insert some extracts from that w e consider it right also to suggest the sort of restrictions by cases create a very unnecessary embarrassment to landlords ; the number of constabulary in any particular county, it appears if perseveres ill a spirit of kindness, united with firmness Liverpool & manchestr 10/. per et. 100 0 0 100 0 0
in the advancement of his personal interest,
report, and to express our entire concurrence in the sentiment, which we think that those powers ought to be guarded, so as to that it would greatly disappoint the tenants, and that it to us to admit of much doubt, whether the provisions of a later of purpose, he may confidently look to a well-merited reward, Ditto, Ilalf ShAres. • 101. per et. 50 0050 0 0
which are there put forward. prevent abuse. would sew the seeds of much future dissension and discontent. clause (27) could have been intended to leave it in the power ProbablY
but certainly in the improvement of the district in which Ditto Quarter Shares 10/. per ct. 25 0 0 1'.5 0 0
London B:liirniihtgliam 10/. per ct. -- Stock. 232
Speaking of the fund for grants, the Commissioners say- We recommend that two members shall be added to the It has been suegested by some of the witnesses that re- of the Lord-Lieutenant to increase the burdens of local taxation, Ditto,
,New ' hints- tot. per ct. 22 0 0 2 0 0 42N
ie blush has been done with the aid of this fund towards the Board of Public Works in Dublin, of high legal station and keying the tenant from the demand of the mg-collector would b adding without limit to an armed force, which, as we he lives, and the increasing comfort of the people around him. Ditto, New ii Shares 101. per ct. 2.5 002 0 0 3014,
improvement of the condition of the people in several parts of character. be in itself an advantage ; and although we see difficulties in
" :item. Ao.3i
have shown, occupy in this country thdposition of a standing " All which we humbly certify to your Majesty. London and Illackwall - 18 13 4 -7%
the country, but much more remains to be done, and it is to be That upon any application for a loan by persona under any compelling a landlord to pay the count cess, yet it may be army, though not voted annually by Parliament. The 27th " DEVON. London and Brighton 3l. Os. per sib. 50 0 0 50 0 0 581/,
apprehended that the districts standing most in need of this legal disability to charge their estate, it shall be the duty of the worthy of consideration whether souse inducement should not clause seems to have been necessary to enable a constable toitto, Loan Notes•• 5/. percent. 10 0 0 10 0 0 13%
FERGUSON.DINGTON. London'and S. Western :31.. 5. Ps. per W.I. 41 .6
to
description of assistance are, from local circumstances, the Board to examine, not only into the propriety of the inn. be offered, in the shape of a per tentage, to those landlords act in a county different from that for which he had been ori- " GEORGE A. 11AnIILTON. London and Greenwich - 12 15 4
Ditto PreLor Priv• • 5/ ercent• 18 '7 2 -
- 10
24i4
least likely to be brought under the consideration or the power provements proposed, but also into the state and condition of will voluntarily undertake to pay it, and ledge the same ginally appointed. 79
of grand juries to relieve them. The execution of such works !flee property, the interest of the various persons connected with with the treasurer before a certain day. When we consider these circumstances with respect to the " JOHN WYNNE. Do., New Cons. Bths -
who4o 0 0 6 0 0 25%
leads to the adoption of improved modes of cultivation, and the it, and the propriety of making a charge upon the estate fur Independently of any question as to to the apportionment or distribution of this force-the power exercised by the Lord- "J. P. KENNEDY, Secretary. Ditto, New - 50 002 10 0 121.1
abandonment of the rude and primitive implements in common re-payment of such loan ; and that no advance shall be made Payment of the county-cess, there are Points connected with the Lieutenant over it-the entire absence of any centre' on the " February 14, 1845." Thndon and Croydon • 10s. per sh. 315 9 - I%
use, and: opens to the officers of justice and the local authori- unless upon the certificate of the Chief Commissioner and the subject that require distinct consideration. part of any person or body it, the county-the military cha- - Ditto, (maned.c. - 900 4 0 0 51%
London and York - 50 0 0 210 0 5`%
ties, places which had been the secure haunt and imienetrable two legal members of the Board, recommending such advance, We see much that i 3 defective in the present grand jury ratter of the force itself-and the fact, that since it has been LAW IN Lynn And Ely - 25 0 0 210 0 5%
refuge of the outlaw and the robber. We conceive that the and stating the nature of the security to be taken. system, generally, and think it requires further revision. In raised to anything approaching to its present amount, the
---...-- Manerhester arid Leeds 1/. 7s, Gal. p.s. 100 0 0 70 0 0 139
advantage of affording aid to the promction of such works, in That all advances shall be made by instalments not exceeding particular, we desire to see some plan devised for the constant Government has been able proportionately to reduce the num- Ditto, Half Shares 11.175.6d.p.5. 50 0 6 30 0 0 GUS
a statistical, moral, or political point of view, are too obvious 500/. in amount, and that no further advance be made until it superintendence of the fiscal affairs of counties. tier of troops in Ireland-when, above all, we recollect the COUR TOF CHANCERY, Feb. 22.
The Lord Chancellor did not sit in Lincoln's Inn Hall to- Ditto, sixteenths -
Dit o,Quarter Shares 4s. 25 0 0 2 0 0 14%
_.Dcttito,Quarter Shares 65 0 1 5 0 514
to make it necessary to dwell on the subject at greater length. kas been proved to the satisfaction of the said Commissioners We think that by such means the county funds would be more deep interest that the whole empire must feel in the tranquillity
.:btr_irno .:... .. - that the former instalment has been properly applied. beneficially applied, and more economically managed. of Ireland, and the public importance of the duties of this they, in consequence of
.having to attend the Coaamission
which sat in Ins odship's.private room at Westminster, to Manchestr & 13irming. 21. per share 40 0 0 40 0 62
• fund of this nature very many measures of improvement that That in every eof a party applying for an advance, who The custom which has obtained so much of late years of body being efficiently perfotined-we are of opinion that it
inquire into the clahn of the King of Hanover to the - 10 0 0 20 0 10
Ncl,),Rctz,os,tlleSirkm.itli.,)e,rileikv 21.135. per sh, - Stock. 93
Stock. 127%
are to be effected by it, will remain unaccomplislaed for many is entitled as tenarcist in-tail or for life to the income of the estate charging by Act of Parliament, and it may be according to an ought to be treated as a part of the natlonal force, and that it Dane Fifths .••• • • . - 20 0 3%
Hanoverian Crown jewels. The Commissioners were the -
years. to be charged, he shad be required to enter into a personal ill-considered scale, large sums upon the respective counties, is not advisable or fair to levy a tax exclusively on the Irish
Lord Chancellor, the Master of the Rolls, smo-
lt will be seen that these remarks only follow up and enforce obligation, by way of collateral security, to the extent of double and over which the grand juries have no control, has created counties for the maintenance of it; but that the county-cess
Northern and Eastern . 216.,5.5.
N'C 7) \rvt h.' tKi eB4ntll •.1 j -
250
00
00 24 0 0 50
25 0 0 1 10 0 15
observations of a similar nature that have been repeatedly mademuch discontent, and is liable to serious objection. The great ought to be lessened by the amount of Charge for this force, so the Lord Chief Justice of tire e C ./1* . MX.
the amount or instalment of the proposed loan; and in case the Court Of COM
in the reports of various Committees and Comissioners, and Commissioners shall at any time find that an instalment has proportion of county charge is thus removed hobo reach of far ,as number timed by the Act for each county. man fleas. Sir Charles Wetherell and M Kelly Ns'orth British ........ - - 10
appeared as Counsel for the King of Hanover, and the Solici-45 0 0 62
which have been founded upon the evidence produced before been applied to otlo r purposes than those contemplated by the the rate-payers, and their power in regulating county ex- In the case of an increased force being sent under the pro. Ditto, Scrip, iss.s/.(1. 15s. 50 00250 0 46
tor-General and Mr. G Turner were for the Crown • .
penditure becomes quite insig nficant. But we shall presently visions of the 12th or 13th sections of the 6th of William I V.„ 'G. ' Ditto, Quarter shares
them ; and we trust that such opinions, now again stated by a Act, it shall be their duty to put such obligation in sit. for Pemberton appeared as solicitor for the King of Hanover, - le 10 0 210 0 6%
Board which must have the best means of knowing both the the recovery of such instalment or any part thereof, with in- notice this class of presentments. c. 13, into any particular county, we recommend that the ex- and Mr. Maule for the Crown ...... - - 215 0 5
wants capabilities of the country wiil have much weight forest at 6 per cent., and it shall be in their discretion either In considering the subject, we have examined the nature of pense of such force shall be borne wholly by the district in ' ' Norwich and Brandon. - 20 0010 0 0 161,‘
but Sheffield and Lincoln..
The whole case was conducted with the greatest privacy, Ditto, New.........
with the Legislature, and that there will' be a disposition- to to stop all further payment in respect of the loan Agreed for, or the respective items of county expenditure-how far they may which it is requi ed, aed levied off the occupiers, until, on the - 10 0 0 10 0 3%
no person being allowed to be present except the counsel, so- Portsmoith Direct •• • - 50 0 0 210 0 2
promote, by liberal pecuniary aid the execution of such public if they shall think it to be for the benefit of the in to be considered as fitting matters for local or general taxation_ restoration of tranquillity, such force may be withdrawn. -
ncitors, and Mr. Gurney', the short-hand writer. Preston and Wyre - - - 50 0 0 50 0 0
works as shall, upon due examination, be found likely to con- direct the proper application of the remainder by their own how far the proprietor and occupier are respectively inte• There are some other matters which have been brought • itictimnd & W.E June. - 20 0 0 10 0 3U
tribute to the general advantage of the country. We refer officer in accordance with the original proposal. rested in them, and how far they are of prospective or name- under our notice in the course of our inquiry, and which, as Rugby .......
• diate advantage. I ref-- 1 0 3%
Ditto, 2d Pref., 134 . - !25 0 0 25 0 0
particularly to the opening of extensive mountain districts, by We think that by some provisions of this nature all possi-affecting materially the occupa, ion of land, and the condition of • , Vice-ChancellorUcia?u7a3V232,.
i
the formation of roads. bility of abuse may be effectually prevented, and many im- As the result of this investigation, we recommend, for the tile occupier, require some observations on our part. eii'i'\'CEofLLEr°,gilalBnd' tookC -
I 25 0 0 1 5 0 1%
nothing of public importance came before his Honour. Sheffield & Munchestr 5/, per cent. !100 0 0 82 10 0
We believe that in many instances the principles of sound provements effected, which, without aid to be furnished un- reasons hereafter given, the transfer of the constabulary charge A great inconvenience is felt in many parts of Ireland from Date, Quarter Shares - 115 0 0 80 0 13
policy and of a wise economy ought to lead to the under- der the Act of Parliament, must be wholly abandoned. to the Consolidated Fund-of the eupport of charitab!e institu. a want of a unformity in vseights and measures, and from undue COURT OF L 'XCHEQUER, Feb. 21. shrws.,wely.,Dunetir - i5O 0 0 210 0 6%
taking, at the public cost, of works of this nature, even al- But we further recommend that any advance made under tious to tire reseective unions-and that the cost of erecting exactions by purchasers of agricultural produce, under the - South Devon .... ilOOO 10 0 0 17
(Sittings at Guildhall, before the LORD CHIEF BARON and A
though the inhabitants of the district, or the proprietors of this Act to persons under legal disability shall riot exceed permanent county buildings should be borne by the proprietors. name of allowances for beamage, tic. south-Eastern &I;ocr -U. le. 33 2 4 - 40
adjoining land, are unwilling or unable to contribute. Whilst in the whole the amount of 50,000/. ,or such other li- '
l'he,e alterations would considerably reduce the gross amount Under orditiary circumstances, where the buyer and seller London Jury.) itto, New iss.lBl.dis - 50 0 0 80 0 16%
O'COI'...INELL V. HEPWORTH AND ANOTHER. South Wales
l
it is true, on the one hand. that Government ought not to mited sum as Parliament may fix. Any application by an of county-cess ; and we feel bound to say, that, with regard may be considered as being on equal terms, legislation on such • - - 2100 4%
allow the funds of the State to be applied for the improve- incapacitated person for a larger advance should be made un- to the remainder, we think that the occupier has the most im- matters may not be required; but in Ireland, where the land- Mr. JAMES (with whom was Mr. Lush) stated that this
emte:ensorineyrtsmouth - I - 210 0 2%
Ment of private property, it is equally certain, or, tee other der the sanction of a Court of Equity. We further recom- mediate interest. holder is frequently the occupier ohonly a few acres, we think was an action brought by Mr. Henry Oonnel, the illegiti- , • mes and
Trent Valley ... Medway.. - 119 5 8 -1%
hand, that expenditure upon works calculated to produce mend, that for those county works for which, by the exist- The Committee of 1836, and the Commission of 1840, re- he is too much in the power of tpurchaser of his produce mate soli of Mr. Daniel O'Connell, against the defendants Yarmouth & No•r;i•c•k• - 20 0 0 20 0 1914
public and general benefit ought not to be withheld because the ing law, loans Tray be obtained from the Board of Works, commended that the office of Clerk of the Crown be united to and ought to be protected by some alteration in the law in this as proprietors of a newspaper called The Wakefield Journal Ditto, Ne„
.... -
- 20 0 0 20 0 0 27%
20 0 0 8 0 0 14
o, eration will at the same time confer a benefit upon individual grand juries should be empowered, with the consent of the that of the Clerk of the Peace; and, as we believe that no per.. respect. and Westlliding Herald, for a libel published in that paper on York & North Midland 10/. per ct. 50 0 0 50 0 0 104
pioiirietors. It should be recollected, that the mere opening Lord-Lieutenant in Council, to borrow money on county son has been appointed Clerk of the Crown since the Report of It has been suggested to us that the laws relating to the the Bth of March, 1844, reflecting on Mr. O'Connell's charae- Ditto, Half Shares • . 10/. per ct. ! '25 0 0 25 0 0 52%
of a good road through a wild district does not of itself neees- bonds, the principal to be repayable by inetalments, with. that Commission, nave on the understanding that he held his leasing of mines by incapacitated persons, in respect to the pro- ter. The Learned Counsel stated that the plaintiff; although Do., Scarbro Branch
Ditto Sylby Seri - - 20 0 0 43
sarily improve the properties through which it passes. interest. office liable to future arrangement, we think that the time has portion of the gross produce which it is necessary for the lessor he inherited nothing else from his father, inherited Ditto, Extensioup..•... - - 20 00 66
This first operation gives encouragement for the outlay of LABOURERS. come when the offices should be united and held bY a resident to reserve require amendment. some portion of his talent and eloquence, and as soon as he Boulogne and Amiens -
- 25 0 0 1 5 0 12%
20 0 0 3 0 0 1 s',
private capital, and affords facilities for its useful application; We must not omit to notice the system which revails in a officer. Where there have not been vacancies in whichthis In reference to theregistration of trees under the"existin
_, . ~_ ‘ . arrived at maturity, disdaining to be a mendicant on his en. Northenr of FraneC
g inther, Inc earned a livelihood by lecturing in various towns Orleans arid Vierzon.. - 20 0 0 40 0 ele
and the joint effect of the whole is at once to stimulate the in- greater or less degree in every part of Ireland, of l • arrangement has been entered on, vie think
etting land that there should law, the benefit which the tenant ewe( s ceases almost 'Tame- •
I.- 20 0 0 10 0 13%
dustry and increase the comforts of all parties connected with for one or more crops, commonly known as the con-acre be as little delay as possible in consolidating these offices care diately upon the expiration of his lease ; and when the lessor is in the country on the science of astonomy. By the profits dreams
des, Bourdeaux _ 20 0 0 20 0 6%
the immediate locality and
, to promote the prosperity of the system. The land so let is in some few districts called guar- being taken that the present burden on counties be not increased, under strict limitation and legal disability, with respect to the obtained from these lectures, the plaintiff supported himself Parisraris and
Strasbourg..
-2000 2 o 0 3
whole surrounding district, and thereby to add to the general ter land or rood land. for the purpose of giving retiring allowances to those who are' reservation of timber, the tenant agreeing to take out a new arid his mother, whose name was Courtenay. In the spring Paris and Orltlins 6•• - 20 0 0 20 0 2eS
resourees of the country. blush has been said in condemnation of this syttem• but Perfectly able to discharge their duties. It jS worthy of con- lease may have no alternative but either to cut down the trees is
of last year the plaintiff lectured at Leetis, where his lectures Paris and Rouen ...... -
21. '2O 0020 0 0 45%
20 0 0 20 0 0 43
We are not, however, advocates for any indiscriminate ad- still we are convinced that some • • • ' practice of this nature is essen- d f• I'whether the office f C Crown- Solicitor 'lnAslight•A
si era mu a eo, e o Circuit or surrender is right. amendment in the ct would were numerously and respectably attended. He afterwards
proceeded to Wakefield, where he also purposed to give lec- it Alen and Havre .... - 20 00!12 0 0 2%
vances of public money by way of grant. We are only desirous tial to the comfort, almost to the existence of the Irish pea- might not be abolished as vacancies occur, and his duties trans.. remedy this inconvenience. tires ; but, before any lecture had been delivered by him in
of impressing upon those whose duty calls upon them to con- sant. Under ordinary circumstances, the wages of his labour ferred to the Resident Officer acting as Clerk of the Peace and The duty on glass, as it is now enforced and levied, operates JOINT-STOCK BANILS.
that town, the defendants published the libel now complained
alder this matter more particularly, that cases frequently will alone will not enable him to purchase food and other necessa. Crown. By this arrangement the Magistrates would have an injuriously on the poorer classes, with respect to the comfort of of. The Learned Counsel then read the alleged libel, which
and do occur in which it is consi tent with a wise economy to ries, and to pay even the mast moderate rent. It becomes, efficient legal adviser ready to assist them in all cases of im.. their habitations, and by enhancing the price upon the lowest was as follows : - Dividend Amount
giant money from the public funds fur the execution of a public therefore, necessary that he should resort to some other means portance, and in investigating the evidence immediately upon quality of glass, virtually prevents its use, even among the Name of Company. per of Paid. Price
"Lectures on Astronomy.-A Mr. H. O'Connell, who
work from which no direct return is - for procuring subsistence, and these can only be found in the the occurrence of crime. occupiers of small farms. Annum. Share.
claims to be a son of Mr. Daniel O'Connell M P has been _
wards which the neighbouring proprietors are either unable or occupation of a piece of ground which shall furnish f' a crop o fhe offices also of treasurer and secretary of the grand jury We cannot avoid directing attention to the evidence, '• • '* ”
delivering a course of lectures at Leeds this week, which -
unwilling to advance any money. potatoes for food. This he generally takes from some farmer should be united under such arrangements as might prevent an almost universally given, with respect to the injurious effect have beenvery thinly attended, andbut indifferent Australasia .
gave.s• •••• :• • • el. per cent. X s. d. X s. d.
We full 40 0 0 40 0 0 4414
y concur in the opinion expressed in the report of the in the neighbourhood, upon conditions which vary much, ac increase in the burdens of the counties, and secure the residence of the loan fund system on au agricultural population. Well - •
satisfaction. 'llns elr. O'Connell, we are informed, is dis- Brnsh.North American 6/. per cent. 50 0 0 50 0 0 451. c
Select of an efficient officer. adapted as it may be, or useful as it may have proved to Conunercial of London 51. per cent. 100 0 0 20 0 0 21
Committee on the state of the poor in Ireland in cording to the particular terms of agreement reYs • pecting the avowed by the learned Irish agitator, who declares that he
1830 :- ploughing, the manure, the seed, &c. The inspection of weights and measures may be at once tradesmen and nth rs resident in towns and villages, who use is no son of his and that it is a trick b • the use of Ids doloniel.•• ..... •.•• • • 5/. per cent. 100 0025 0 0
" That the effects produced by these public works appear to Although the raker of con-acre ground may, in ordinary transferred to the con,tabulary. The inspectors-general of the money borrowed as capital, and repay the instalments to gain audiences. We leave the Y 1'
name
Lemin :net Westininstr 61. per cent. 100 0 0 20 0 0 27%
disputants to settle their i endon Joint-Stuck ' `
... U. per cent. ~CI 0 0 10 0 0 I.s
hare been extended cultivation,• improved habits of industry, years, receive a good return for the rent which he assumes, prisons should be remunerated for their travelling expenses, as from their weekly profits, it evidently produces much evil when own quarrel, but it certainly is a singular thing for fattier -*
• •
a better administration of justice, the re-establishment of yet, as the amount of such rent, although not unreasonable in in Great Britain, particularly as they have now the examination resorted to by the small farmer for the purpose of payinga
117. .Art,i,,pl),hit...
to den • his own son, and zrerce ' - we believe naira as. 1). '
iiN.iiicia
\c„ •...
81. per cent. 100 0 0 es, 0 0 44%
peace and tranquillity in disturbed districts, a domestic colon!- respect of the farmer', expenditure upon the land, is always also of lunatic establishments. The conveyance of convicts rent, in which cate he has no weekly incomings to defray the O'Connell to b -'I
not ;e,
.ihe t o
b.believe nun so lost t . 1 o every sense 'Utto, Nem ... -•• . • , SI. per cent. 10 0 0 10 0 0
cation of a population in excess in certain districts, a diminu- large with reference to the ordinary means of a labourer, a and the expenses of prosecutions should also be placed on the instalments, and when resident at a distance from the loan of shame National of Ireland .. I 5/. per cent. 50 0 0 17 10 0 lele
lion of illicit distillation, and a very considerable increase to bad season, and a failure in this crops leave the latter in a dis- same footing in both countries. office is subjected to much loss of time in making the repay- d . blood We un-me as to disavow re own flesh and .Nat. ~ ov
1 r Ircial of Eng. 51. per cent. 100 0 0 35 0 "
eratand this,nlr. H. O'Connell is the same man who was
the revenue." tressed condition, subject to a demand which he is wholly un- The system of county surveyors and their deputies gives rise naents. An important alteration was made in refererice to the Waned at Exeter Hall eome few Ter a Ditto, New... ...... , 5/. Iper cent. 20 0 0 i 0 O 31V2
Under the sanction of the Board of Work!, large sums have able to meet. to much dissatisfaction. It is worthy of consideration whether loan fund system in Ireland by the 28th clause of the Alt ex . ,3,sr go as the bastard Union of Australia.- I - 25 0025 -0 0 27
son of the Honourable and Learned Member for ' all Ire-
been norrowed and expended in the promotion of works of A great improvement upon this system is effected where the plan recommended by the Commission of 1640 might not, 6 and 7 Victotia, C. 91, by vihieli the managers of loan Union of London-- I 5/. per cent. 50 0 0 10 00 I 12%
land,' and whose exposure only threw ridicule upon the
public utility, and 125,000/. has been granted for similar landlords themselven either by reserving small portions of with advantage, be applied to the inspection of county work, societies are empowered to make loans repayable by instal-
purposes. ground from the larger holdings, or by the application of some and whether a small body of surveyors, placed under the Corn- meats, at no shorter intervals than twenty-seven days, and nith getters up of the affair. We perceive that the gentleman i$ INSURANCE COMPANIES.
It is, however, deserving of remark, that while that sum Portions of land in their own occupation, supply the collier missionere of Public Works, might not be sufficient for general interest at a rate not exceeding lid. per month in each pound. poSted. on the walls of this town as Mr. 11. O'Connell, the
has been granted, the State has derived a profit under the sye- labourer' upon their estates with small lots of ground, held im- inspection, leaving the details to a superior class of deputies, at It does not, however, appear that this alteration in the law •
son of ~ .D. ..
alr. o' °mien, M.P." The Learned Counsel said
Dividend Amount
an adequate salary. Some of these changes may cause no me_ has been sufficiently made known, or that the extendedperiod that nearly every allegatioe contained in this paragra 1
tom of loans, amounting already to about two-fifths of those mediately under themselves, either for one or more crops, or inP•l Name of Company. Per of Paid. l'riec,
mediate reduction of expense; we hope, however, that they
of repayment has been adopted. was false. Mr. O'Connell never denied that the plaintiff
grants. This has arisen, as explained in the evidence of Sir the nature of an allotment, and particularly if in connexion with Annum. Share.
John Burgoyne, from the difference between the rate of into- a decent cabin. We believe that the good effects of such a sys- will insure, if adopted, a better execution of the duties of county An improved system of loan funds limier the provision to was his son; on the contrary, he had paid for his education
°lnners.until he was of an age to support hitneell. The plaintiff £ e. d. £ s. d.
rest at which the State has obtained money. and that at which rem will be manifold with regard to the moral and physical con- which we have referred might operate to check the usurious
loans have been made under the provisions of the Public dition of the people. Not the least amongst the advantages will But great relief would be derived from an alteration in the interest which is usually exacted by money lenders from the • . - •
had never exhibited himself at Exeter Hall, as suggested ; -
tlhion ..
Works Act. be, that the labourer will be thus brought into direct and fre. time of levy ; and the following observations of the Committee small farmers, and of which man • fla rant • • ) g nt instances are detailed this nab a piece of fabrication. •In fact, the paragraph was •
Chance Brit. and For. 6 per cent. 100 0 0 II 0 0 20
Ditto 31arrue . 6/. per cent, 100 0 0 5 0 0 6%
Since the passing of the Drainage Act, plans for the im_ anent communication with the landlord, who will be able gra- of 1830 appear to us to have attracted too little of the attention in the evidence. as false as it was cruel and malicious; and it 1 cious ;
‘1,,,r11.7 so vivo 1.64111 instruction as to the most nrofitahle mode of those who have since that time endeavoured to correct the AGRARIAN OUTRAGES. sources of positive injury to tae plaintiff. He was engaged British. Con ' - miercial .. is. per share .50 0 0 50 0 7
by a latly named Penn. who kent a boarding school. to give Cleriel.Med.&Gen.Life. 51. tier cent. 100 0 0 2 10 1 6k

COURT OF EXCHEQUER, Feb. 21.
(Sittings at Guildhall, before the LORD CHIEF BARON and a
London Jury.)
O'CONNELL V. HEPWORTH AND ANOTHER.
Mr. JAMES (with whom was Mr. Lush) stated that this
was an action brought by Mr. Henry O'Connell, the illegiti-
mate son of Mr. Daniel O'Connell, against the defendants
as proprietors of a newspaper called The Wakefield Journal
and IVestßiding Herald, for a libel published in that paper on
the Bth of March, 1844, reflecting on Mr. O'Connell's charac-
ter. The Learned Counsel stated that the plaintiff; although
he inherited nothing else from his father, inherited
some portion of his talent and eloquence, and as soon as he
arrived at maturity, disdaining to be a mendicant on his
father, he earned a livelihood by lecturing in various towns
in the country on the science of astonomy. By the profits
obtained from these lectures, the plaintiff supported himself
and his mother, whose name was Courtenay. In the spring
of last year the plaintiff lectured at Leeds, where his lectures
were numerously and respectably attended. He afterwards
proceeded to Wakefield, where he also purposed to give lec-
tures ; but, before any lecture had been delivered by him in
that town, the defendants published the libel now complained
of. The Learned Counsel then read the alleged libel, which
was as follows :
" Lectures on Astronomy.—A Mr. H. O'Connell, who
claims to be a son of Mr. Daniel O'Connell, M.P., has been
delivering a course of lectures at Leeds this week, which
have been very thinly attended, and gave but indifferent
satisfaction. This Mr. O'Connell, we are informed, is dis-
avowed by the learned Irish agitator, who declares that he
is no son of his, and that it is a trick by the use of his name
to gain audiences. We leave the disputants to settle their
own quarrel, but it certainly is a singular thing for a father
to deny his own son, and mercenary as we believe Mr. D.
O'Connell to be, we do not believe him so lost to every sense
of shame as to disavow his own flesh and blood. We un-
derstand this Mr. H. O'Connell is the same man who was
exhibited at Exeter Hall some few years ago as the bastard
son of the Honourable and Learned Member for Ire-
land,' and whose exposure only threw ridicule upon the
getters up of the affair. We perceive that the gentleman is
posted on the walls of this town as Mr. H. O'Connell, the
eon of Mr. D. o'.. onnell, M.P." The Learned Counsel said
that nearly every allegation contained in this paragraph
was false. Mr. O'Connell never denied that the plaintiff
was his son; on the contrary, he had paid for his education
until he was of an age to support himself. The plaintiff
had never exhibited himself at Exeter Hall, as suggested;
this was a piece of fabrication. • In fact, the paragraph was
as false as it was cruel and malicious ; and it had been the
sources of positive injury to tne plaintiff: He was engaged
by a lady named Penn, who kept a boarding school, to give
lectures to her pupils, but, after hearing of this paragraph,
she declined to let him continue his lectures. In this, as in
other cases of libel, it was impossible to know to what extent
it might have injured the plaintiff to represent him as an
impostor. lie, therefore, called upon the jury to give rea-
sonable damages.
Mr. \VITA:Im, for the defendants, submitted that a person
who had the indelicacy to go through the country promul-
gating his own unfortunate situation and the frailty of his
parents, was fairly open to the imputation conveyed in the
paragraph read to the jury. All that the defendant had
done was to suggest that the plaintiff's mother and father
were not what he represented them to be. The Learned
Gentleman observed that there was a new coin, half farthinga.
known in the north as " grahams." The plaintiff did not
want damages, but notoriety; let the jury give him notoriety,
by being the first person to whom a British jury awarded a
"graham."
Tha jury, after five minutes' consideration, returned a ver-
dict for the plaintiff—Damages 10/.

lees shout. se united am net by a resident
officer. Where there have not been vacancies in which this
arrangement has been entered on, et e think that there should
be as little delay as possible in consolidating these offices, care
being taken that the present burden on counties be not increased,
for the purpose of giving retiring allowances to those who are
perfectly able to discharge their duties. It is worthy of con-
sideration also, whether the office of Circuit Crown Solicitor
might not be abolished as vacancies occur, and his duties trans-
ferred to the Resident Officer acting as Clerk of the Peace and
Crown. By this arrangement the Magistrates would have an
efficient legal adviser ready to assist them in all cases of im-
portance, and in investigating the evidence immediately upon
the occurrence of crime.
The offices also of treasurer and secretary of the grand jury
should be united under such arrangements as might prevent an
increase in the burdens of the counties, and secure the residence
of an efficient officer.
The inspection of weights and measures may be at once
transferred to the constabulary. The inspectors-general of
prisons should be remunerated for their travelling expenses, as
in Great Britain, particularly as they have now the examination
also of lunatic establishments. The conveyance of convicts
and the expenses of prosecutions should also be placed on the
same footing in both countries.
The system of county surveyors and their deputies gives rise
to much dissatisfaction. It is worthy of consideration whether
the plan recommended by the Commission of 1840 might not,
with advantage, be applied to the inspection of county work,
and whether a small body of surveyors, placed under the Com-
missioners of Public Works, might not be sufficient for general
inspection, leaving the details to a superior class of deputies, at
an adequate salary. Some of these changes may cause no im-
mediate reduction of expense; we hope, however, that they
will insure, if adopted, a better execution of the duties of county
offassers.
But great relief would be derived from an alteration in the
time of levy; and the following observations of the Committee
of 1830 appear to us to have attracted too little of the attention
of those who have since that time endeavoured to correct the
evils of the Irish grand jury system.
" It is in evidence that the presentment system, so far from
creating a more useful demand for labour, and thereby improv-
ing the condition of the poor, has at times a contrary tendency.
It is stated in the report of 1823, on the employment of the
poor in Ireland, that the demand for labour on the public
roads generally occurs at the most inconvenient periods of the
year, either during the spring work of the farmer or daring his
hay harvest, or turf cutting in the summer. If measures can
be adopted to distribute this work more judiciously, it will tend
to equalise the demand for labour at different periods of the
year, and to prevent the dangerous vicissitudes of an extended
demand for labour, suddenly followed by a diminution of the
means of employment.' A more equable distribution of these
works, and their execution at the times when the demand for
agricultural labour ceases, would undoubtedly contribute to im.
prove the condition of the working ;;lases."
To endeavour to carry out this suggestion, and in accordance
with the plan proposed by the Commission of 1840, we recom-
mend that there should be but one presenting term in the year,
at or about the spring assizes, if it be thought advisable to con-
tinue the annual control of the grand jury, and as the amount
of county-cess is very large, that it should be levied and paid
into the county bank immediately when raised, so as to be
available for the accounting periods, which we suggest might
be fixed at the October sessions, before the assistant-barrister,
and at the spring assizes or April sessions. In tlsis manner the
work done in summer might be paid for in October, and that
executed in winter, in March or April; while from the time at
which the sessions are at present held, the summer's work is
now generally paid for in March or April, and that executed in
winter about July or August. It will be seen from the evi-
dence, that in some of the southern counties it is the practice
(required as the witnesses conceive by the law), that no steps
be taken for the levy of money necessary to pay a contractor un-
til he has actually executed the work, so that he must remain
without his money for four or eight months longer, according
to the season of the year, unless he raise it by discount from
the county treasurer; and it is not, therefore, surprising, that
the grand jury of Kerry should find that the roads under the
Commissioners of Public Works, by whom the contractors are
paid monthly, as the work is executed, are kept up more eco-
nomically than those over which they have control, and should
have petitioned to have all placed under that board.
When the regslar collection of the poor-rate shall be firmly
established, we think the charitable institutions may derive
their funds from that source more properly than from the
county-rate ; this will introduce, also, a much more equable
division of the amount between occupier and owner, and a fair
proportion will fall on the absentee. We do not, by this pro-
posal, mean to recommend that these institutions be placed
under the Poor-law Commissioners. By the appointment of
auditors of accounts, quite separate from the Assistant Com-
missioners, such a change has been made as will enable the ac-
counts to be placed under those officers, without at all render-
ing it necessary that the superintendence and control of the in-
stitutions be vested in the Poor-law Commissioners ; but it
would be a great improvement in the system if these auditors
were appointed by Government, and there were a power of ap-
peal to the Chief Remembrancer from their decision.
'This would transfer from the county-cess to the poor-rate
a sum of about 130,0001. a year, which would probably be
raised to 200,0001. as soon as the system of subscriptions was
superseded by the more equitable levy under the poor-rate
valuation.
This hasty review of the grand jury system would be incom-
plete, if we did not refer more particularly to the compulsory
presentments, from the rapid increase of which so much dissa-
tisfaction has arisen. It will be s..en from the returns which
we have had prepared, that of the whole amount of money levied
under grand jury presentments throughout Ireland, a propor-
tion of about one-third alone is at the option or under the
control of the grand jury at each assises. The portion,
amounting to nearly two-fifths of the whole, which is raised
under presentments which these bodies are compelled to make,
either under the provisions of some Act of Parliament en-
forced by the authoritative direction of the presiding judge
of assize, is, in fact, a heavy tax for public purposes imposed
exclusively on the occupiers of Ireland. This is a system
which should be discontinued as quickly as circumstances will
permit.
The expense of the constabulary forms the heaviest item in
these compulsory presentments.
The constabulary force in Ireland, as it at present exists,
is regulated and organised principally under the 6th of Wil-
liam IV. sap. 13.
The power of appointment to the force rests with the Lord-
Lieutenant.
By clause 5, he is empowered to appoint one inspector-
general and one or two deputy inspectors-general.
By clause 7, to appoint four county inspectors. This has,
however, since been altered.
By clause 9, to appoint one sub-inspector for each county,
or county of a city, or county of a town, and two for the fol-
lowing counties :—Cork, Tipperary, Galway.
These are now called county inspectors.
By clause 11, to appoint for each county of a city and county
of a town (exceptconst
ab
ie(now
thecounty
styled
subofci tyinosfpeDztuobrl).i n ),
l chief
2 head constables, and not exceeding
11)0 sub-constables ;
and to appoint for each barony, half-barony, or other division
of a barony in each county at large,
1 chief constable (now styled sub-inspector),
2 head-constables, and not exceeding
16 sub- constables.
This clause also provided, that the Peace Preservation Force,
atthestpataessinogf odfisttuhrisbanAccet: w•clas
inappocoinnteciuedfnme•eof th
any dise
m.. -
r, in consequence of the same being by
5e proclamation
us a

Under the sanction of the Board of Works, large sums have
been borrowed and expended in the promotion of works of
public utility, and 125,0001. has been granted for similar
purposes.
lc is, however, deserving of remark, that while that sum
has been granted, the State has derived a profit under the sys-
tem of loans, amounting already to about two-fifths of those
grants. This has arisen, as explained in the evidence of Sir
John Burgoyne, from the difference between the rate of inte-
rest at which the State has obtained money, and that at which
loans have been made under the provisions of the Public
Works Act.
Since the passing of the Drainage Act, plans for the im-
provement of considerable tracts have been proposed, involving,
according to the applications now before the Board, an ex-
penditure of 600,0001. on drainages, which can only be con-
sidered as preliminary to greater and more local improvements.
PUBLIC WORKS ACT.

The Act of the Ist and 2d William IV., commonly called
the Public Works Act, contains many provisions regulating
the terms and conditions upon which Parliament has thought
it right to authorise the issue of public money to a limited
amount in aid of works in Ireland.

he money is to be advanced partly by way of grant, and
partly by way of loan, and the terms upon which loans are to
be made, vary according to the different purposes for which
the money is required.
For certain purposes specified In the Act, money may be ad-
vanced to individuals or public bodies, upon security, to be
repaid by instalments within 20 years after the work is
completed, and with interest, at a rate not exceeding 10s.
per cent. above the current rate of interest upon Exchequer
Bills.

Some alteration has subsequently been made in some of the
provisions of this Act ; but as to the points to which we now
desire to call attention it remains unaltered.

By section 32 it is provided, that advances by way of loan
may be made upon the security of freehold or leasehold in-
terest in land, for the draining, embanking, reclaiming, or other-
wise improving land ; but it is required that money so advanced
shall be repaid in three years after the work is completed, and
with interest at five per cent.
These terms being generally felt to be unnecessarily disad-
♦antageous to the borrower, only one or two applications have
been made for a loan under this section, and this part of the
Act, which was evidently intended to promote agricultural im-
provement, has wholly failed of its purpose.,
The Act, after having made provision for the advance of
money towards the execution of certain works, particularly
the formation of roads and bridges, upon condition of such
grants being met by a corresvonding advance of money by
individuals and public bodies, contains in section 66 a provision
in the following words :

Ist and 2d William IV., cap. 33, chose 32,—" Provided
further, and be it enacted, that it shall and may be lawful
for the Commissioners for the execution of this Act, to make
advances in aid of the drainage, embankment, reclaiming, or
ether improvements of land, on the credit of mortgagees, as-
....:ments, or ether assurances of the estate and interest,
freehold or leasehold, in such land, which is to he the sub-
ject of such drainage, embankment, reclamation, or other im-
provements. Provided always that it shall be made out
to the satisfaction of such Commissioners, by competent evi-
dence, accompanied by the certificate of a skilful engineer
or surveyor, approved of by the said Commissioners, that
such drainage, embankment, reclamation, or other improve-
ment,
when completed, will increase the value of such land
in the proportion of at least ten per centum on the sum pro-
posed to be expended thereon ; and that a contract with two
good and sufficient sureties, to be approved of by the said
Commissioners, shall be previously made and entered into for
the full and complete execution of such drainage, embank-
ment, reclaiming, or other improvement, at and for a sum
not exceeding the amount of the advance sought therefore,
within a period to be fixed by the said Commissioners, not ex-
ceeding seven years from the date of such advance ; and that
in all such cases the whole amount of such advance shall be
made repayable within three years next after the period so
fixed for the completion of such drainage, embankment, re-
claiming, or other improvement, with interest thereon, in the
meanwhile, at a rate not less than 51. per centum per annum,
payable halt-yearly, as the said Commissioners shall fix and
appoint."

_ And clause 66 is in the following words, viz., " And where.
a
by reason of the communications to be opened by such
roads and bridges, great benefit is expected to accrue to the
proprietors of the estates in which the same may be con-
structed,•
and the value thereof may be greatly increased, and
it
only ic
is
particular
rt to enable tenants for life and others, having
estates, and persons under legal disability or
raise incapacity, to
ch money for the purpose of contributing
such
to the making
roads and bridges; be it therefore, and
it is hereby furthereur enacted,u that it shall and may be lawful
to and for any
gregate, and for the rahti"' lay or ecclesiastical, sole or ag-
utzbeands, trustees, committees, or at-
torneys of, or for the
pany, or any parts of an landsrs or proprietors of, or any com-
through, or bordering upon
which, any such road ,hailtia
constructed, or proposed to be
which any such bridge shall iae' lar be intended to pass, or in
constructed, being under venture,of minors, lunatics, or beyond
the seas, or otherwise incapable for themselves, and
to and for every of them for the time being, and to and for the
tenants in tail
owners and proprietors of all such lands, befing
ofYthoe issue extinct, or
for life, or tenants in tail, after
respectively, for
tenants in dower, and to and for every
the time being, with and by the sanction anmdres
consenta of the
Commissioners for the execution of this Act firs.
ob-
tained, by indenture or indentures under their respect(ivaenhiarda '
and seals, from time to time, and to which indenture or inden-
tures' one of the said Commissioners shall be an executing party
for the purpose of signifying such sanction and consent as afore-
said, to charge the said lands with any sum or sums of money
which shall or may be advanced or applied by him, her, or
them respectively, in or towards payment of the said contri-
bution for the making of such road or bridge, and for se.
curing the re-pa,iMi.nt of such sum or sums of money, with
interest, to grant, mortgage, lease, or demise, or otherwise
subject the said lands unto any person or persons who shall ad-
vance and iend such sum or sums of money respectively either
in fee or for any term of years ; so as every such grant,
mortgage, lease, or demise be made with a proviso or condition
to cease and be void, or under an express trust to be surrendered,
in' case'and so soon as the sum or sums of money thereby to be
secured, with lawful interest for the same, shall be fully paid and

A great improvement upon this system is effected where
landlords themselve, either by reserving small portions of
ground from the larger holdings, or by the application of some
portions of land in their own occupation, supply the cottier
labourers upon their estates with small lots of ground, held im-
mediately under themselves, either for one or more crops, or in
the nature of an allotment, and particularly if in connexion with
a decent cabin. We believe that the good effects of such a sys-
tem will be manifold with regard to the moral and physical con-
dition of the people. Not the least amongst the advantages will
be, that the labourer will be thus brought into direct and fre-
quent communication with the landlord, who will be able gra-
dually to give useful instruction as to the most profitable mode
of cultivating the lard, so as to obtain the largest amount of
produce. The rent should be a fair rent, and the quantity of
ground not larger than can be managed in the intervals of la-
bour for hire.

In adverting to the condition of the different classes of occu-
piers in Ireland, we noticed, with deep regret, the state of the
cottiers and labourers in most parts of the country, from the
want of certain employment.
It would be impos,ible to describe adequately the privations
which they and their families habitually and patiently endure.
It will be seen in the evidence that in many districts their
only food is the potato, their only beverage water, that their
cabins are seldom a protection against the weather, that a bed
or a blanket is a rare luxury, and that nearly in all, their pig
and manure heap constitute their only property.
When we consider this state of things, and the large propor-
tion of the population which comes under the designation of
agricultural labourers, we have to repeat that the patient en-
durance which they exhibit is deserving of high commendation,
and entitles them to the best attention of Government and of
Parliament.

Their condition has engaged our most anxious considera-
tion. Up to this period any improvement that may hare
taken place is attributable almost entirely to the habits of
temperance in which they have so generally persevered, and
not, we grieve to say, to any increased demand for their la-
bour. We deeply deplore the difficulty which exists in sug-
gesting any direct means for ameliorating their condition. We
trot such means may be found in the general improvement of
the country, and in the increased demand for labour, which we
hope will follow from the adoption of the suggestions we have
already ventured to offer. But there are one or two matters
from which, although they may be thought by some of trivial
importance, we are of opinion that some direct advantage
might be derived by the labouring population.
We have already adverted to the con-acre system. It will
be seen in the evidence that the contracts between the labourer
who hires, and the farmer who lets the plot of ground in which
the potatoes are to be planted, are usually ♦erbal, and how
completely the latter is in the power of the former. in the event
of any dispute arising in reference to those contracts.
We recommend that a summary jurisdiction should be given
to magistrates at petty sessions, to hear and adjudicate upon
disputes respecting con-acre, where the plot of ground shall not
exceed half an acre.

Where a cAtier is summoned before magistrates for tres-
pass committed by his pig, or for a nuisance, in his having a
heap of manure upon a public road, it appears not unfrequently
that the person under whom he holds his cabin has furnished
neither the means nor place to erect a pig-cot, or keep his
dung-heap from the road. It is worthy of consideration whe-
ther, as suggested by several witnesses, a fine might not be
imposed upon the person who has let the cabin without ad-
juncts, necessary alike to the public convenience, and for af-
fording the means of sustenance to the poor cottier ; and whe-
ther, in such cases, it might not be desirable to empower
magistrates at petty sessions to require the person by whom
the cabin is let to provide such adjuncts where possible; and
that, in default of doing so, he should be liable to a fine. Con-
sidering also the wretched condition in which so many cabins
in Ireland are found, and the sufferings and disease to which
our fellow-creatures, living in such hovels, are exposed, it
would be extremely desirable, if it were possible to effect it,
that in all cases of cottier holdings the person who lets the
cabin should be bound to keep it in sufficient repair, and that
he should be compellable by magistrates to do so. It may also
be proper to enact that the person letting a cabin shall not be
entitled to recover his rent by any legal process, if it clan be
shown that he has not kept it in tenantable repair.
We cannot, however, disguise from ourselves the great diffi-
culty of dealing by law with such matters, and the danger lest
evils of this nature may be aggravated, rather than diminished,
by too hasty attempts to remove them by legislation. We
have, therefore, felt ourselves unable to recommend any direct
measure for that purpose.
We trust the exposure of such a state of things may lead to
its remedy.
COUNTY-CESS.
We come now, in obedience to the instructions of Your Ma-
jesty's Commission, to consider the charges upon land in Ireland.
The principal of these are the poor-rate and the county-cess.
With respect to the former, we have endeavoured to ascer-
tain, in different parts of the country, the proportion which the
valuation, on which it is levied, bears to the letting value of
land; but we have not entered further into the subject, as such
an inquiry, to be of any real utility, should extend over all
parts of the island, and there are many in which the poor-law
could scarcely be said to have been in operation at the com-
mencement of our proceedings; we the less regret this, las the
system must, at no distant period, be submitted to a separate
and distinct inquiry.
We must, however, observe, that complaints have been made,
that the tenant without a lease is at times deprived of the benefit
which the law intended to give him ; and when claiming the
liefgialddoe,dlumetuiosnt
rfraoi:yhoiusrlraenndtl,o,rd. has been met with the re-
mark, " There is no use in my, allowing you the poor-rate; as,
The undereountyeesssr.
the consideraticn of raised,
which general name a levy for many
different purposes
has at different times been under
the reports, formerly referred to, and
little certain information Commissioners by whom
inhre been presented to Par-
liament.
and An
xs
tveenrty
prevails as to the
s, and the control
possessed by grand juries, which in this case are supposed to
represent the counties, we have called for returns for the y
1841-2-3 from each county, of the sums levied, and have ars
sepa-
rated them into two tables appended to this report (8 and
one of which.will exhibit the degree of control vested by law in
the grand jury, and the other the principal heads to which the
cess is applied.

In a former part of this report, when we expressed our
favourable opinion of the general state of the country, we felt
it necessary to allude tosome lamentable exceptions. We re-
gret to find that these exceptions appear to be on the increase.
We made inquiry, throughout the whole of our tour, respect.
in the existence of agrarian outrages.
In Tipperary for a long time past, and in aorae other coun-
ties prevailed a system of lawless
numerous instances to the perpe-
tvtirieaostki:mieoce
h recently,icold-bloodedch h has led
l tehdme rue in n
murders.
ders.
These are generally acts of revenge for some supposed in-
jury the party who commits or instigates the
commission lum itintiihstsiied ontnoftit:hl::eisn n t
oeutagtertained of injury in such cases are re-
gulated by a standard fixed by the will of the most lawless and
unprincipled members of the community.
It after repeated warnings,
fromeon often goes out for vengeance
he has neglected or misused, he is looked
upon in the districts to which we are now referring as an in-
jured
ma ai
and at times a large numerical propor-
tion of the neighbourhood look with indifference upon the
upon the landlord, or the agent, and upon the man who suc-
ceedss
to the farm ;
al tenant
, which
ahni ed ih
the r edecreern n v e
dto even
most atrocious acts of violence, and, by screening the criminal,
abet and enc ,urage the crime. Murders are perpetrated at
noonday, on a public highway, and, whilst, the assassin coolly
retires, the people look on, and evince no horror at the bloody
deed.
The whole nature of Christian men appears, in such cases,
to be changed, and the one absorbing feeling as to the posses-
sion of land stifles all others, and extinguishes the plainest
principles of humanity.
We cannot but feel that this state of things calls loudly for
correction, although it does not come within our province to
discuss what measures should be adopted under such circum-
stance: for the detection and repression of crime.
It must be obvious that none of the suggestions which we
have offered, nor any measures founded upon them, which Par-
liament or Government could devise, can be applicable to a
state of things so appalling and disorganised as that which we
have described. tt e have given our best and most anxious
consideration'te the means of ameliorating the condition of the
well-disposed Irish peasant, and we feel that the greatest allow-
ance is to be made for his sufferings, his poverty, his ignorance;
but we can make no allowance for the deliberate cold-blooded
assassin, or for those who abet assassination.
We wish it were possible to make the peasantry in these un-
happy districts aware, that all measures for improvement pre-
suppose the security of life and property ; that the districts in
which both are systematically rendered insecure must be re-
garded as beyond the reach of such plans of amelioration as we
can suggest; and that while crimes of so fearful a character
prevail, it is hopeless to expect, in reference to those districts,
much practical improvement in the relation of landlord and te-
nant, or any security for the permanent happiness of the people.

FEBRUARY 22.
(Before the Lola) CIIIEF BAnoN and Common Juries.)
No case of public interest occurred during the day.

EXTRAORDINARY SCENE IN A
COURT OF JUSTICE.

Ditto 31 urine ..
Atlas .• • • • •••
British Commercial ..
Clericl,Med. & Gen. Life
County
liagle • •
Economic Life •• •
Eng. 8; Scot. Law Life
European Lite .• • • • • • •
Freemasons' ..• • • • • • • •
Guardian .• • • • • • • • • • •
Imperial Fire • • • • • • • •
Imperial
Indemnity Marine • • • •
Law Life
Legal and General Lite
London Fire
Loudon Ship
Marine ...... .......
31 ed. Invlid & Gen. Life
National Loan Fund..
National Lite •
Palladium Life........
Plicenix .
Protector Life..
Provident Life • • • • •
Rock
Royal Exchange
Sun Fire .....
Ditto Life
Universal Life • •

31. 10s.
6 per cent.
Cl. per cent,
13s. 6,1. pr sh.
7s. per share
51. per cent.
31.
9s. and
r
6/. ss. bs.
6s.
5 per et.,}
/1,305.b5.
5/. per cent.
sy, per cent.
5/. per cent.
Cl. per cent.
5/. per cent.
12/. per cent.

At the Public Office yesterday (Friday), after a charge
against some prisoners for stealing toilet bottles had boon
disposed of, Inspector William Hall handed up to the Mayor
( who, with Mr. Weston, the ex-Mayor, presided) a slip of
pi-per, which, we were subsequently informed, contained
the following notification :—" Feb. 14, 1845.—Inspector
hall begs leave most respectfully of the Mayor to allow him
to resign forthwith." After presenting his resignation,
The Mayor said—l will see you after, Mr. Hall. We can-
not accept your resignation without knowing what it is for.
Mr. Hall (in an excited tone)—That has nothing to do
with the matter. You may as well accept my resignation
now as any other time; and if you do not, it shall come be-
fore tin..public.

-12 s.
1/. Mi.& bs

" We have thus endeavoured to lay before your Majesty
the conclusion at which we have arrived, after the extensive
inquiry which we have been engaged. We are well aware
of the difficulties that surround the whole subject of that
inquiry.
" One class of persons have been accustomed to look ex-
clusively to legislative interference for a removal of the
evils to which Ireland is exposed; whilst others despair en-
tirely of any beneficial effect upon her social condition from
such interference.
" We do not agree with either of these classes. We know
that the best directed measures of parliament cannot pro-
duce the desired effect, unless aided and enforced by the
steady, as well as active exertions of the people of all ranks
and conditions in their respective spheres; but we are at the
same time satisfied that a very beneficial change may be
effected by the united and vigorous efforts of the Legislature
and of individuals.
" We cannot despair when we find a country enjoying such
natural advantages as Ireland possesses, with a large extent
of uncultivated or unimproved land, and a numerous popula-
tion, able and willing to labour if opportunities are aflbrded
to them. On the contrary, we confidently believe, that by
an examination of the facts as they actually exist, and by
a close attention to details, means
art may be
and found fo
filar
r re-
moving many or most of those pial parti
obstacles, which 'nave hitherto so greatly impeded the bene-
ficial employment of labour, and obstructed the enjoyment
of those advantages which a country such as Ireland is calcu-
lated to afford.
" But this desirable result cannot be looked for, unless the
united and vigorous efforts of all classes in Ireland are directed
towards it.
"Instances are to be seen in every part of the country of
estates upon which the liberal conduct and active super-
intendence of a resident landlord, or of a resident and
judicious agent, have established a system of progressive
improvement as to the land, and of increasing comfort to
the people, which are, unfortunately, wanting in many other
districts.
" We trust that one effect, at least, of our labours will be
to rouse the attention of many who have as yet thought little
upon the subject, and to encourage them to follow the
examples thus held out to them.
" Above all, we would call upon all such persons not to
rest satisfied with any vague or general notion of the state
of the population with which they are connected, but care-
fully to examine all circumstances, in order that they may
apply those remedies which shall be appropriate to the case,
as well as efficient fur the purpose of relief:
" The voluminous evidence collected by us, in all parts of
Ireland, with the numerous returns and other documents
transmitted to us, present a mass of information upon the
§ocial condition of that country which mat serve Its a mild

31. ss,

10s.
10s.
51. per cent.

51. per cent.
St. per cent.
Si. per cent.
3/. p.ct. & bs.
Si. per cent.
It. ss.
4s.
Si. per cent
61. 103.
1/. 6s.
/. pr cnt.

X s. d.
500 0 0
100 0 0
100 0 0
50 0 0
50 0 0
100 0 0
,100 0 0
40 0 0
50 0 0

1000 0 0
50 0 0
20 0 0
20 0 0
Stock.
100 0 0
500 0 0
100 0 0
100 0 0
►OO 0 0
50 0 0
25 0 0
25 0 0
100 0 0
50 0 0
20 0 0
100 0 0
50 0 0

20 0 0
100 0 0
5 0 0
Stock.

X s. tl.
50 0 0
II 0 0
5 0 0
5 0 0
5 0 0
2 10 1
10 0 0
5 0 0

S 0 0

250 0 0
2 0 0
All paid.
3 0 0

36 10 0
50 0 0
10 0 0
5 13 1
10 0 0
2 0 0
12 10 0
12 10 0
15 0 0
2 0 0
2 10 0
0 0
2 0 0

16%
3
16
3%

The Mayor here attempted to interpose, to put an end to
further discussion in such a place.
Mr. Hall—l have been most grossly insulted by Mr.
Weston, the ex-Mayor—a greater vagabond never was seen
on the bench ; and I now tender my resignation as a man.
[This language of Hall produced great sensation in court.]
The Mayor—Mr. Hall, thiS is very improper language.
Hall-1 don't care, I will have something to say about you
before the public, before I have done.
The Mayor—l do not care what you have to say of ma
before the public.
Hall—l will not serve such a corporation and such a
set of thieves and vagabonds any longer. There are a few
thieves there (pointing to the gallery), that are a d—d sight
more respectable and more competent to fill that situation.
I can gO and get a porter's situation at 12s. or 14s. a week,
as von did when you were at Mr. James's, in the Bull Ring.
ilall was proceeding in this abusive and violent strain, in
spite of the repeated efforts of Mr. Gem, magistrate's clerk,
and Mr. Redfern to restrain him, the latter frequently ejacu-
lating "Hall ! Hall !" in a deprecating tone.
In reply to the remonstrances of these gentlemen, Hall
continued, "I don't care ; I know what I am doing," and
(turning to Mr. Weston), exclaimed with vehemence, "You
have been studying the law, have you ? You have been
studying the law and morality? Recollect Highgate! I
can live upon 12s. a week, and upon porridge, as you did in
the Bull Ring."
Hall was here bustling towards the door, when Mr. Weston
who had during the extraordinary scene remained silent and
perfectly undisturbed, addressed him and said, " Halt, the
Mayor and myself dismiss you."
hall—Very well ; that is done, that is better; you have
been obeying the law, and at the same time you Lava bean
studying a d—d deal of immorality.
Hall here left the office.

1 0 0
10 0 0
0 10 0

100 0 0

6 5 0

There are various surmises as to the real cause of this scene,
some attributing the inspector's violence to mental aberration,
while others, who see a " method in his madness," do not
hesitate to say that it is the first act of a plot got up to in-
sult the Chief Magistrate of the borough, and bring the
authority of the Corporation into disrepute.—Birmingham
Journal. •

16%
4%
2%
10%
1914
27%

4414
45%
21
27
143
44%
16%
3734
27
12%

72%
20
NV,
7
GN

142
50!(
195

PREVENTION OF SMOKE.—Sir William Magnay,
Alderman John Johnson, axd several scientific men,
visited Mr. Godson's premises in Aldersgate-street, on
Wednesday, for the purpose of witnessing the operation
of his apparatus for the prevention of th,s very offensive
nuisance of smoke. Mr. Godson's patent furnace for
the consumption of smoke has been under trial in the
factory at the Dockyard at Woclwich, and at Ports-
mouth Dockyard, by the Government, and several re-
ports have been made most strongly representing its
efficacy. The numerous gentlemen who tested the power
of the apparatus expressed surprise at the extraordinary
disappearance of smoke during the whole time the fur-
nace was blazing, and also at the simplicity of the plan.
They remained during a❑ hour on the premises, and
expressed their admiration ,of the ingenuity by which
one of the greatest nuisances the metropolis is infested
with can be completely removed. Many Members of
Parliament have been to examine the patent furnace
within the last few weeks, in consequence of the inten-
tion to legislate upon the subject of the prevention of
smoke early in the present session.

4X
192 N

DOCKS.
Dividend I Amount
Name of Company. I per of Paid. Price.
Annum. Share.
X s. d. 'X s.
Commercial •
East and West India 5%1. pr cent. ' Stock. 142
East Country ..... 1/. per sh. ;100 0 0 21
London
St. Katharine •••• • • • 5 per cent. Stock. 118
Southampton ••,. • . • . 41. per cent. 50 0 0 , 50 0 0
WATER-WO XS.
Dividend Amount
Name of Company. per of raid. Price.
Annum. Share.
£ a, d.
East London .. • ... 81. 100 0 0 230
4;rand Junction ••• • • • 3/. 46 11 4 90
Kent . ..... .......... Si. 10s. 100 0 0 65
Vauxhall ..... 5/. per cent. 100 0 0 GO
West Middlesex .. .. ~ 41. 16s. pr ct. 63 12 9

LIST Or SCOTTISII COMPANIES' PRICES.
Dividend Amount
Name of Company. per of Paid. Price.
Annum. Share.
£ e. d. £ s. Q.
Bank of Scotland
Royal Bank of Scotland 6/. per cent. 100 0 0 1684
British Linen Company 81• per cent. 100 0 0 226
Commercial Bank ... • 61. per cent. ' 100 0 0 167►,!
National Bank 6l. per cent. 10 0 0 lb%
Union Bank of Scotland 7141. pr cent. 50 0 0 97
Western Bank .. .... • . 61 per cent. 50 0 0 7G
North of Scotland Bank 61. per cent. 5 0 0 7
Clydesdale Rank.. • • 61. per cent. 10 0 0 14%
Eastern Bank .. • • 31. per cent. 15 0 0 114
Caledonian Bank
Edinb.Bc Glasgow "tank 5/. per cent. 5 0 0 7%
City of Glasgow Bank . 51. per cent. 815 0 13%
Scottish Union Ins. Co. 5/. per cent. 20 0 0 1 0 0 14
Hercules Insurance Co. 71. per cent. 100 0 0 10 0 0 14%
Insur. Co. of Scotind bl. per cent 10 0 0 All paid. 10
North British Insur 9l. per cent. 200 0 0 10 0 0 24%
Caledonian Fire Insur lOl. per cent. 100 0 0 10 0 0 25
Edinburgh Life Insur 6l. per cent. 100 0 0 10 0 0 18%
Edin. & Glasg. Railway 44/. percent. 50 0 0 50 0 0 65%
Ditto, Shares 4%1. per cent. 12 10 0 All paid. 164
Edin., Leith, & Grantn 20 0 0 20 0 0 15
Glasgw & Ayrshir Rail. 4%1. percent. 50 0 0 AU paid. 66
Glasgw & Greenck Rail. 21. per cent. 25 0 0 All paid. 124
Glsgw & Garnkirk Rail. 5/. per cent. 25 0 0 All paid. 28
Dundee & Arbrothßail. 51. per cent. 25 0 0 All paid. 32

CANALS.
I
..; Dividend!
Names of Dividend Names of u
Price. . per Price,
Companies. 4 per Companies. A ,
Annum.', .IInUM.
---- -••••••-•--
f! ,
X
Ashtn & Oldh 97i51.55. p'c 72 Monmouthsh 100 81. 160
Ashby-d-la-Z 1131 41. 70 Mntgomrysh 100 81. 98
Ilarn4ey.... 160! 121. 180 Macclesfield. 100 - 15
Basingstoke.. 100. - • 5 Neath
Brknk&Abrg 1501 51. 85 Nottingham. 150 12/. 200
Cromford.... 100 181. 164 I'eak Forest. 78 3/.
40
Dudley 100! 41. 80 Regent's.... 33 1/. 2434
Derby •• •
Ellsmre&Chs 133 41. 58 Shropshire • • 125 8/. 120
Erewash . -1100. 321. 440 Somrset Coal ISO 71. 10s. 123
Forth & Clyd:100! 41. 105 Do.Lk Fd St 12 6/. p. c. 11
GrandJunctn 100! 71. 140 Stffrd &Wore 140 281. 480
Grand Union,loo It. 10s. 25 Shrewsbury.. 12:, 151. 230
Glamorgnsh.!l72 1.4%1. 210 Stourbridge.. 145 20/. 300
Glstr & Brkly 00 - 8 Strtirci on AV 70 U. 10$. 30
Grantham
Huddersfield 57 - 20 Wye Rail.
Kennt & Avn 39 Is. 6d. lO Trnt &MI 50 30/. 450
Lancaster 47 11. 10. 40 sey, 4 sh.
Leeds& Livrp 100 341. 610 Timms &Med IS/ - 10
Leicester ... • !140 10/. , , 139 Worestr & 1 78 41.
50
Leiestr&Ntlu 83 41. 70 Binning.
Loughboroghl42 701. !1050 Vilts 8c Brits 67 11. 4s.