The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-27 00:00:00

It was not until now that the real destitution of the
unfortunate creatures was exhibited. Medical aid
was called in, and Mr. Kitt, surgeon, of No. 15,
Upper Copenhagen-street, and Mr. Duncombe, at-
tended, but the youngest sister lingered until the fol-
lowing Monday, when she expired, the doctor having
no doubt that she died through want of nourishment.
The remains of the deceased lay in the room with the
surviving sister (alone) until Friday, when, from
their decomposed state, the sister having no friends
nor means to bury the body, the landlord applied to
the parish authorities. A coffin was sent to the
house, and the remains were interred on Monday last
in the burial-ground of the Chapel-of-Ease at Hol-
loway, her sister being the only mourner. The sister
has been visited by one or two humane persons, who
have afforded her temporary relief. She is a most in-
telligent person, and states that they were orphans of
respectable parents, who came from Dumfries, in
Scotland, about ten years since. The parents died
and left property, and the sisters lived for some time
afterwards at Lewisham, in Kent ; but in their in-
experience they speculated in building, and were
cheated of their money, and reduced to distress. They
were often starving. Her sister and herself had re-
peatedly lived on a penny loaf and cold water, in
preference to exposing their distress ; and on being
asked if they ever applied to the parish for relief, she
said they chose rather to bear their misfortunes than
go to the workhouse. They had no friends, and they
entered upon a small school, which was too precarious
for a livelihood. The unfortunate young lady is still
in the house, depending upon casual bounty, and in
great grief.

THE LAND COMMISSION.
THE ORMONDS, AND OWNEY AND ARRA.
The Tipperary Vindicator publishes the following
evidence of a witness, who, it is stated, has been ac-
quainted with the above-named baronies for the last
forty years, " who is a proprietor in fee, and whose
evidence on oath is indisputable."
STATE or AGRICULTURE.—The agricultural state
is not improving in consequence of the want of proper
manure.
FARMS.—The effects of improved tillage are an
increased demand of labour, but grazing land has di-
minished that demand.
RENT.—AII lands are set by proposal ; and such is
the desire to obtain it that tenants will give for land
a rent which has been ruinous to former and indus-
trious tenants. Land is set by the acre, except moun-
tain and barren lands. There are no particular class
of persons usually employed in valuing land. The
average rent is about 303. per Irish acre, or 50 per
cent. higher than the poor-law valuation. It is
usually demanded in about four months after it be-
comes due, and is paid in some instances by bills.
Tenants, in many cases, depend on local usurers to
meet their rent or the bills they have given for rent,
and after renew these bills at an interest of 20, 30,
and 40 per cent., in some cases higher. Rent is re-
covered by distress or civil bill at a quarter session.
In many instances arrears are held over the tenants
till a large sum accumulates, which naturally causes
the tenant to fear his inability to discharge the
amount. If any arrears remain due receipts are
only given on account. This creates great misunder-
standing between landlord and tenant.
TENURE.—The greater part of land in the three
baronies above-mentioned are held under the owner
in fee. Tenants under the court are better circum-
stanced than those under proprietors, but they have
to depend on an uncertain tenure. In most cases
tenures are held at will, or for very short terms, with
a covenant not to sublet or burn the land. These
short tenures prevent the tenants from making any
improvements in the lands, such as fencing or ma-
nuring them properly, tenants considering that any
improvement made by them is of benefit only to the
landlord.

IMPROVEMENTS.—In general the permanent im
provement of land is impeded by the lesser of the
estate having only a life interest in it. In all cases
witness has seen of land held for ever, the improve-
ment has been greater than in other cases ; nor has
witness ever seen tenants for ever implicated in any
agrarian outrage. No remuneration is ever given by
a landlord to a tenant quitting a farm for any im-
provements he may have made. If longer leases were
given, improvements would speedily be made ; but
tenants are at present deterred from making any im-
provements by the uncertainty of the tenure.
TENANT'S RIGHT, OR SALE OP GOODWILL.—Un-
Iess in cases where tenants emigrate they have seldom
an opportunity of selling their goodwill, but the in-
coming tenant will Frequently give the ejected
tenant a sum of money, to avoid outrage, assassina-
tion, or the destroying of his stock. This amount is
regulated by the number of friends the evicted tenant
may have, or his or their character for revenge. A
tenant taking land from which another has been
evicted without obtaining the goodwill of the evicted
tenant, is sure to be annoyed, his property destroyed,
and, in many cases, his life taken.
CONSOLIDATION or FARMS.—Within the last few
years this plan has become very general. It is ac-
complished by extensive evictions, and its conse-
quences are dreadful. Landlords are frequently
murdered, or bailiffs, or in-coming tenants. In this
consolidation of farms agrarian outrages have chiefly
originated. It has diminished labour and caused
great distress and misery, driving many of the evicted
tenants to desperation.
SUB-LETTING OR SUB-DIVIDING FARMS.—SiIb -
letting is very little practised in these baronies. The
new letting on sub-tenants, in these cases where it has
had recourse to, is of great service.
FARMING POPULATION.—Large farmers with grass
lands, are in some cases in a comfortable condition.
With tillage lands the contrary is generally the case.
Small farmers are generally struggling for a liveli-
hood; and labourers are in the most wretched state.
Wages where employment can be had seldom exceed
sixpence per day, without food. Witness knows many
families who can get no more than one meal of pota-
toes and salt a day. The Government Loan Fund is
of great service to labourers.
The rent on small farms is generally higher than on
the larger ones—the rent of small farms is generally
paid in cash, and witness believes more punctually
than that of large farms. The children of tenants, on
the death of their parents, are left to the care of
friends, who, in general perform the duties of guar-
dians, if the farms are left to them. Labourers in the
country usually hold cabins with little or no land
from farmers, but they usually reside near or in towns,
where their condition is miserable in the extreme. In
the country the rent is paid by distress or civil bill
at quarter sessions. The con-acre system which
prevails in some parts, is of infinite service—but for
this they would be unable to obtain provisions. Con-
acre is usually set at 101. per acre, and taken
from farmers. In many cases, employment cannot
be obtained at any rate of wages. The wages usually
given are Bd. per day in summer, and 6d. in winter.
Witness has known labourers to go seven or eight
miles at four o'clock in the morning, and offer to
work the day for 6d. Agrarian outrage in almost
every case has arisen from the eviction of tenantry.
AGENCIES.--The lands of resident proprietors are
in general best managed. The duties of agents con-
sist in collecting rent, &c.
CHARGES ON LAND.—The amount of county cess
varies in this county, but is generally about 3s. per
acre. It is collected in January and June of each
year. The poor-rate varies in each electoral division
of the union. In the division of Nenagh it is 15.51 d.
in the pound. The amount of poor-rate division is
about 7s. 31d. per acre. The landlord allows half the
rate in the rent, provided there are no arrears. The
rent charge is paid by the tenant ; in cases where he
refuses to do so he is evicted.
EVICTING FOR NON-TITLE AND. NON-PAYMENT OF
RENT.—Witness never knew much sympathy for te-
nants evicted for non-payment of rent, unless such as
paid a rack-rent or arrears accumulated. There is
always sympathy for persons turned out for non-title
—and this, in witness's opinion, is the cause of
agrarian outrage.
Lord DEVON—WouId small farmers with farms
from four to ten acres be able to pay their rent and
support themselves ?
Answer—l know of small farmers with four to six
acres being more independent than large tillage farm-
ers ; because farmers of this class will till with ma-
nual labour, and thus the ground is better tilled and
more productive; they also keep two or three pigs in
the year, and this enables them to pay their rent. On
the contrary, farmers with from twenty to twenty-
five acres will keep a couple of horses, whose support
takes away nearly all the profits, and a great portion
of the produce of the farm.
Lord DEVON—Do the Catholic clergy assist by ad-
vice to put down agrarian outrage ?
Answer—Yes, always—and but for the advice of
the Catholic clergy—the dread of future punishment,
and the hope of future reward, I am confident assassi-
nations would be more frequent.
Lord DEVON—How did these outrages originate?
Answer—Before the passing of the Emancipation
Ant, gentlemen gave leases to a numerous tenantry
for the purchase of making them 40s. freeholders, and
had frequent intercourse with these tenants for dif-
ferent purposes ; but since the passing of that Bill,
the landlords have consolidated their farms, and driven
the smaller farmers to seek employment as labourers
when no employment could be obtained. If the landed
proprietors
e d had
such
and
dper snore
grievances intercourse a s
lay withn their
rr te
power,nants,
feel confident that the tenants would do all they could
to cultivate their friendship. But the rents are
chiefly, paid through agents, who, having no in-
terest in the welfare of the tenantry, do not care,
with some honourable exceptions, what becomes
of the tenant so that the rent is • papa •-.
Now, as
the rents are frequently demanded at a. time when
the tenant is unable to pay it, from not hizving sold
his crops—an eviction takes place, and the tenant is
driven out on the world. From the number of these
evictions, the tenants look on the landlord with sus-
, picion—the landlord, on the contrary, equOly fears