CHAPTER VIII. GENERAL AND CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS. BUT, after all these triumphant answers to all the objections that can be made to our system for improving the landed property of Ireland, and with that all other kind of property, besides the habits and comforts of the people, it may still be matter of wonder how it should happen that, whilst England should be so advanced in civilization and agriculture, Ireland should be so backward in both; and still matter of doubt, whether there be not something in the nature of the country, as in the genius of the people, which radically prevents the advance of either; and whether it be not "warring against nature," to attempt accelerating their progress. We hold, however, that there is a certain point of civilization and of agriculture that may be called the point of acceleration, which once reached, their 282 IMPROVEMENT OF IRELAND progress onward is so certain, that little impetus is afterwards required. "There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which taken at the flood leads on to fortune." The tide of the affairs of Ireland does not seem to have ever yet reached "the flood:" still— "The current of its course Is bound in shallows and in miseries." What we have designated its "monster misery,” is the bad state of the relation of landlord and tenant. What we now call the point of acceleration may most assuredly be reached by those amendments of this relation which we have laid down. These amendments once achieved in the general practice of landlords, think what general industry will be its result,-what prosperity,— what respectability of character arising from prosperity, what enjoyment from competence the result of industry,-what mutual good feelings from mutual co-operation of landlord and tenant,what overflowing plenty of all the products of the earth, what riches flowing in from the superabundance,--what improvement in the diet of the Irish farmer and labourer,-what home consumption of corn and cattle,-what amendment of their health and character thence arising,—what change in their clothing,-what consequent demand for manufactures of all kinds,-what general increase of individual enterprise; and hence,-what arts cultivated,-what inventions made,-what machinery established,-what contentment diffused, NOT HOPELESS. 283 -what anarchy suppressed, what intelligence spread,-what enlightenment dawning throughout the length and breadth of a happy land! Nor are these Utopian expectations or extravagant predictions, for I have realized as many of these features as could find place in the comparatively small scale of 9,000 acres, on a wild mountain district of Munster, whereon about fifteen miles of new road have been made at the landlord's expense, and under his direction. The lands were duly set out and fenced, suitable buildings erected, drains made, and a sufficient quantity of lime allowed to each farm yearly. The result is everything that could be wished or expected. Peace, previously a stranger to the place, has been established; prosperity has taken the place of poverty; industry, of idleness; punctuality of payment has succeeded to arrears; respectability of conduct and character, to turbulence and outrage; decency of attire, to the rags of profligacy; temperate good living, to the uncertain scantiness of potatoes and sour milk; a reading club, and a temperance music meeting have been established, where before the brawls of drunkenness and the fights of faction filled up the intervals of nocturnal Whiteboy drills. Yet, after all, the Government seems to feel it must issue a Commission; for they must have facts to legislate upon, facts collected under authority and condensed into a Report, in a "blue-book," in due form, with an Appendix containing the Evidence. And what is the probable evidence? Why 284 COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. of persons who are anxious to uphold the present state of things. But who will come forward to condemn or even to blame that state? Who will have courage to say to the landholders—“You have been always wrong, are still wrong, and must be set right in the management of your estates?" What tenant will dare to complain of his landlord or his agent? What agent will be disinterested enough to see things in their true light, much less describe them so? Who indeed can give in evidence before such Commission, so comprehensive and elaborate, though still inadequate, an approximation to "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth," as is contained in this Treatise; or who indeed can bestow the time, the thought, and the labour, to digest and arrange it, even if they possessed the requisite knowledge of facts and experience in the workings of plans for improving Ireland and the Irish? A cicá coce witness is hurried, has not time to digest his thoughts, nor to detail his experience-and 'tis not every one that can do so, before the awful tribunal of “ most potent, grave, and reverend seignors," thus assembled, although they may also be "our very noble and approved good masters." Besides, what other Curtius will leap into the gulph? Alas! therefore all that can be expected of any Commission of Inquiry is are cord of such facts and opinions as may tend to rebut what has been called "calumnies" against the Irish landlords.—“The object of the Commission," says the "Dublin Evening Mail," COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. 285 "will be to disabuse the public mind of the calumnies that have been put forth against the Irish landlords upon the one hand, as well as to suggest remedial measures for any real grievances that may be found to exist upon the other. And if the means for procuring extensive and accurate information be supplied with a liberal and generous hand; if strict impartiality and a rigid adherence to justice characterize the proceedings of the Commissioners; if there be no effort to gloss over tyranny, or encourage oppression, should it be found to exist on the part of the landlord; or any attempt at displays of tawdry sentimentality, or wooing mob popularity, by yielding to the unreasonableness or conceding to the clamour of the tenant;"-if all these ifs are fulfilled, this Commission may do much good-i.e. if the Commission probe wounds which there is reason to fear will be concealed from its view-if it suggest remedies for evils which it will never hear of -if it exercises a sound judgment on facts of which it never will be cognizant. But "if me no ifs!" Can this Commission dive into the secret workings of the human heart? Can it search there for that black spot which is the abode of avarice and the throne of tyranny, deeming its lands "all too cheap," when affording only dry potatoes to their cultivators? But avoiding "tawdry sentimentality," will they not, in Grand Jury language, “find” the misery of the people owing to the people? Will they not act on the "foregone conclusion" that rents in Ireland are as low as in England, all things |