The O’Grady responded with the following circular:—­

    KlLLBALLYOWEN, BRUFF, CO.  LlMERICK,

    13th August 1877.

    To my Tenants on Kilballyowen and Herbertstown Estate, Co. 
    Limerick.

    MY FRIENDS,—­Pending the evictions by the Sheriff on my estate,
    caused by your refusal to pay judicial rents on offers of liberal
    abatements, I desire to remind you of the following facts:—­

    I am a resident landlord; my ancestors have dwelt amongst you for
    over 400 years; every tenant is personally known to me, and the
    most friendly relations have always existed between us.

    I am not aware of there ever having been an eviction by the Sheriff
    on my estate.

    Farming myself over 400 acres, and my late agent (Mr. Shine), a
    tenant farmer living within four miles of my property, I have every
    opportunity of realising and knowing your wants.

On the passing of the Land Act of 1881, I desired you to have any benefit it could afford you, and as you nearly all held under lease—­which precluded you from going into court—­I intimated to you my wish, and offered you to allow your lands to be valued at my expense, or to let you go into court and get your rents fixed by the sub-commissioners.

    You elected to have a valuation made, and Mr. Edmond Moroney was
    agreed on as a land-valuer, possessing the confidence of tenants
    and landlord.

    I may mention, up to then I had not known Mr. Moroney personally.

In 1883 Mr. Moroney valued your holdings, and, as a result, his valuation was accepted (except in three or four cases), and judicial agreements signed by you, at rents ascertained by Mr. Moroney’s valuation.

    The late Patrick Hogan objected to Mr. Moroney’s valuation of his
    farm, and went into court, and had his rent fixed by the County
    Court Judge.

Thomas Moroney would not allow Mr. Edmond Moroney to value his holding, nor would he go into court, his reason no doubt being he should disclose the receipts of the amount of the tolls of the fairs.

    The rents were subsequently paid on Mr. Moroney’s valuation with
    punctuality.

In 1885, recognising the fall in prices of stock and produce, and at the request of my late agent, Mr. Shine, I directed him to allow you 15 per cent. on all judicial rents, or rents abated on Mr. Moroney’s valuation, and 25 per cent. on all other rents, when you paid punctually and with thanks.

In October last, when calling in the March 1886 rents, at the instance of Mr. Shine, I agreed to continue the abatement of 15 per cent, and 25 per cent., which, when intimated to you, were refused, and a meeting held, demanding an all-round abatement of 40 per cent.

    This I considered unreasonable and unjust, and I refused to give
    it.