In the first year of the present century, the Dublin Society (not yet ‘Royal’) employed ‘land commissioners’ to enquire into the condition of agriculture in the several counties of Ireland.  The Rev. John Dubourdieu, rector of Annahilt, in this county, was their commissioner for Down and Antrim.  He states that the rent was then on an average 20 s. the Irish acre (three equal to five English), allowing for the mountains and bogs, which he computed at 44,658 acres.  The rental of the county he sets down at 300,000 l.  The net annual value of property assessed under the Tenement Valuation Act is now 743,869 l.  This is considerably under the letting value, it is supposed, 25 per cent.  If this be so, the county yields to the proprietors a revenue of about 1,000,000 l. a year.  If we add the value of the tenant-right, and of the fixtures of all sorts—­houses, mills, roads, bridges—­as well as the movable property and stock, we may get some idea of the enormous aggregate of wealth which the labour of man has created on this strip of wild wooded hills, swampy plains, and bogs.

Now, what has effected this marvellous change?  The tenants, with one voice, exclaim, ’our labour, our capital, our skill, our care, and self-denial.  It was we that cleared away the woods which it was so difficult to eradicate.  It was we who drained away the bogs and morasses, and by the help of lime and marl converted them into rich land.  It was we that built the dwelling-houses and offices.  It was we that made the fences, and planted the hedge-rows and orchards.  It was we that paid for the making of the roads and bridges.  The landlords gave us the wild country to work upon; we have done the rest.  Our industry enabled them to build their stately mansions, and we have continued to pay to them their princely revenues.  Our forefathers came with them as settlers, that they might “plant” the country with a loyal and industrious race of people, and they came on the assurance that they and their children’s children were to remain for ever rooted where they were planted.  They did their duty faithfully and well by the land, by the landlords, and by the Government.  Where the children that inherited their rights failed, their interest in their farms has been purchased dearly by others of the same race who have taken their places.  By what right, then, can they be turned out?’

It is not possible, if it were desirable, to introduce the ’high farming system’ in this county.  But if possible, would it be desirable?  In the eye of a scientific agriculturist it might be better that all those comfortable farm-houses, with the innumerable fences crossing the landscape in every possible form, making all sorts of mathematical figures, presenting the appearance of an immense variegated patchwork—­were levelled and removed so that the plough and all the modern machinery might range unobstructed over hill and vale.  But assuredly it would not seem better to the philanthropist, the Christian, or the statesman.  To the chancellor of the exchequer it would make the most serious difference; for a few herds and ploughmen would consume but a very small portion indeed of the excisable articles now used by the tenant farmers of this county.  I have taken some notes on the diet of this people which may be instructive.