of capital to develope the resources of the land.  The capital came, but the development consists in turning tillage lands into pasture, clearing out the labouring population and sending them to the poorhouse, or shipping them off at a few pounds per head to keep down the rates.  And yet is it not possible to set all our peasantry to work at the profitable cultivation of their native land?  Is it not possible to establish by law what many landlords act upon as the rule of their estates—­namely, the principle that no man is to be evicted so long as he pays a fair rent, and the other principle, that whenever he fails, he is entitled to the market value by public sale of all the property in his holding beyond that fair rent?  The hereditary principle, rightly cherished among the landlords, so conservative in its influence, ought to be equally encouraged among the tenants.  The man of industry, as well as the man of rank, should be able to feel that he is providing for his children, that his farm is at once a bank and an insurance office, in which all his minute daily deposits of toil and care and skill will be safe and productive.  This is the way to enrich and strengthen the State, and to multiply guarantees against revolution—­not by consolidation of farms and the abandonment of tillage, not by degrading small holders into day labourers, levelling the cottages and filling the workhouses.

If the legislature were guided by the spirit that animates Lord Erne in his dealings with his tenantry, the land question would soon be settled to the satisfaction of all parties.  ‘I think,’ said his lordship, ’as far as possible, every tenant on my estate may call his farm his castle, as long as he conducts himself honestly, quietly, and industriously; and, should he wish to leave in order to find a better landlord, I allow him to sell his farm, provided he pleases me in a tenant.  Therefore, if a man lays out money on his farm judiciously, he is certain to receive back the money, should he wish to go elsewhere.’  He mentioned three cases of sale which occurred last year.  One tenant sold a farm of seventy acres in bad order for 570 l., another thirty acres for 300 l., and a third the same number of acres in worse condition for 200 l.  The landlord lost nothing by these changes.  His rent was paid up, and in each case he got a good tenant for a bad one.  Lord Erne is a just man, and puts on no more than a fair rent.  But all landlords are not just, as all tenants are not honest.  Even where tenant-right is admitted in name, it is obvious that the rent may be raised so high as to make the farm worth nothing in the market.  To give to the tenant throughout the country generally the pleasant feeling that his farm is his castle, which he can make worth more money every day he rises, there must be a public letting valuation, and this the State could easily provide.  And then there should be the right of sale to the highest solvent bidder.