The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-10-17


in the last Irish papers summary Of tho pro-
ceedings Of the Encountered Estates Court, from
the filing Of the first petition on the 25th Of Oc-
tober, lS49, to the 3lst Of August, 1858, being
the termination Of the ninth and last session Of
the commission. This document is a highly in
structve and suggestive one. 1t appears that
the total amount Of purchase money received by
the court between the above dates was G23i6l,
093 Gs. 3D., and the gross amount Of funds distr-
buted, e21 1874 ,696 o. 3D., leaving balance on
hand Of Gl ,226,397 IS. l0d. The amount of pur-
chase money paid by English, Scotch and foreign
buyers was only f3,l60,224 leaving resi-
due of 100000, SEQ Is. Id amongst the Irish pur-
chasers. Thus it will be seen that nearly
twenty-five millions of hopeless Indebtedness
have been cleared of, and the industry and pro-
ductiye resources Of Ireland benefited nominally
to the same, but in reality to a much larger
amount. Once liberated from the incubus of
this enormous burden, and fructifed by the CAPT
ial returned to 1t through indirect channels, the
soil Of Ireland has shown that it is fully
larger than that which has hitherto
dragged out miserable and precarious existence
upon it. The Irish laborer can earn wages suff-
cient to support his family in comfort because
the present holders Of the land are free from debt
| ard have the means Of cultivatng it. The i'm
proyement which has taken place in his condi-
ton is, az natural consequence, rcacting upon
the manufacturing and commercial interests of
the country, and thus we see the linen trade and
others of the old staple interests of Ireland rapid
~ reviying, whilst the advantages of her splen-
did maritime position arc being developed by
new enterprises like that of Mr. Levers Galway
line of steamere.
There il one curious fact connected with the
! measure which has worked out these great
changes which is worth mentioning. The pride Of
family IT, as il is well known, one of the strong
est sentiments which animates the Irish heart.
All classes are more or less influenced by it, and
the commonest laborer who can claim pure
Milcsian descent is as proud Of it as the Oldest
ennobled families Of the invasion are Of theirs.
One of the greatest difficulties which legislators
had TO deal with in deyisng remedy for the so
cial evils by which Ireland was afflicted, was
that Of breaking mp the ties which bound the
people to their old traditions. When the Encum-
bored Estates act was resolved upon, it was APP
pretended by many that il would lead to an i'm
mecse influx of English and Scotch prop rietors,
and a sort Of ntcrnecinc warfare between the
adherents Of the old families and Of the new ones
So far from this anticipation being realiz"d, /"
Vim scvii no... 49, -l~--a 6s.s-as that only a
seventh of the whole amount Of property sold has
passed into foreign hands, whilst the remainder
has been purchased by Irish capitalists II has been
ascer;ained curious TO say, that large proper
ton Of these latter branches Of the families Of
the original proprctors, who, having had the
good sense 10 prefer honest industry to helpless
dependence, were enabled 10 amass sufficient
| money in trade TO purchase back portions
Of the estates which the improvidcnce of
their elders had sacrificed. This is one
Of the reasons why the Irish people, usually con-
sidered 80 impracticablc, have been readily
brought to accept the changes which the Encum-
tered Estates act has effected in all the social re-
lations Of the country. Now that they have had
clear experience Of the beneficial results Of the
measure, there is no reason to appreherd that
arrested by prejudice or want Of cxcrtion on
their part. Let Iri=hmen have fair play and a
full field for their energies, and VIC have no
doubt that they will de,clopc the qualities Of In
dustry and thrif,iness. in which II has been the
habit to account them deficient.