Glasgow Courier. — 1858-01-19 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

IRISH LANDLORDS AND TENANTS. To the Editor of the Glasgow Courier. Sir—Since you did me the favour to insert my last letter. I have been requested by some Scotch friends to explain more fully the law and practice, as it actually is in Ireland, between landlord and tenant, which, with your permission, I will endeavour to do as clearly as I can in the short space of a letter. It 18 a great nnsfortune that this important subject should not he clearly understood in Scotland and England, for if it was, I thinkthe present law would not be permitted to continue much longer. Perhaps soine Scotchmen will be surprised to hear that the practice of letting land in Ireland is almost the ser v opposite of what exists in Scotland. In Ireland the rule is, viz.:Ist—That tenants hold only from year to year; landlords will not grant leases, so that the tenant depends entirely on the will or caprice of the landlord or agent, whoever that may chance to be. 2dly—That all improvements are made by the tenant at his own expense, and of which the landlord can take advantage at any time, either by raising his rent, or ejecting hiir altogether. 3illy—Suine landlords are just and generous enough to grant leases, and to assist and encourage their tenants in their improvements; but such are exceptional cases, and few and fur between. The direct consequence of this system is, that lsnd in Ireland remains comparatively unimproved. The landlord will not lay out any money on his property; and the tenant, if ever so well inclined, is afraid to do so. The tenant feels exactly this, that the more he improves his holding, Ore more completely he places himself in the power of his landlord or agent. It is an every day occurrence, that so soon as a farm is improved by the tenant, the rent is raised to any sum the landlord thinks proper; or if the tenant ventures to give an inthvendent voice or rote on any subject, perhaps that may be the signal for annoyance in many ways—for an advanced nenl, if not for an ejectment. 1 regret to say there is no appeal from this arbitrary decision, for the tenant without a lease has no legal claim for compensation, however valuable Iris improvements may have been. This undoubtedly is a great grievance, and this I believe to be the very source of almost all those cowardly barbarous murders, and those midnight outrages that horrify and disgrace a Christian country. I only state facts, which too often occur in our law courts at Quarter Sessions, and reported frequently in many Irish newspapers. I conceive the remedy for all these evils is a very plain and practicable one. While the law should secure to the landlord all the rights and privileges to which he is most justly entitled, on the other hand, it should secure to the tenant, who makes improveinents, an equitable claim for compensation, or a lease for a certain somber of years at his former rent, in tire event of his being evicted, or his rent raised. A law based on this principle I believe would be of incalculable benefit both to landlord and tenant. I hope Scotland and England will think an to, and pass it. I am, Sir, your obedient humble servant, AN