I find from the Antrim Survey, published in 1812, that at that time leases were general on the Hertfort estate.  There were then about 3,600 farmers who held by that tenure, each holding, on an average, twenty English acres, but many farms contained 100 acres or more.  Mr. Hugh M’Call, of Lisburn, the able author of ‘Our Staple Manufactures,’ gives the following estimates of the rental.  In 1726, it was 3,500 l.; in 1768, it was 12,000 l.; and for 1869, his estimate is 63,000 l.  Taking the estimate given by Dean Stannus, as 10 l. or 12 l. an acre, the tenant-right of the estate is worth 500,000 l. at the very least, probably 600,000 l. is the more correct figure.  This vast amount of property created by the industry and capital of the tenants, is held at the will of an absentee landlord, who has on several occasions betrayed an utter want of sympathy with the people who lie thus at his mercy.  There are tenant farmers on the estate who hold as much as 100 to 200 acres, with handsome houses built by themselves, whose interest, under the custom, should amount to 1,500 l. and 2,500 l. respectively, which might be legally swept away by a six months’ notice to quit.  The owners of this property might be regarded as very independent, but in reality, unless the spirit of martyrdom has raised them above the ordinary feelings of human nature, they will take care to be very humble and submissive towards Lord Hertfort’s agents.  If words were the same as deeds, if professions were always consistent with practice, the tenants would certainly have nothing to fear; for great pains have been taken from time to time, both by the landlord and agent, to inspire them with unbounded confidence.

In the year 1845, the tenants presented an address to Lord Hertfort, in which they said:—­’It is a proud fact, worthy to be recorded, that the tenant-right of the honest and industrious man on your lordship’s estate is a certain and valuable tenure to him, so long as he continues to pay his rent.’  To this his lordship replied in the following terms:—­’I am happy to find that the encouragement I have given to the improvement of the land generally has been found effectual, and I trust that the advantage to the tenant of the improved system of agriculture will be found to increase; and I beg to assure you that with me the right of the improving tenant shall continue to be as scrupulously respected as it has been hitherto by my ancestors.  Your kindness alone, independent of the natural interest which I must ever feel as to everything connected with this neighbourhood, affords a powerful inducement to my coming among you, and I hope to have the pleasure of often repeating my visit.’