prietors independent men.
We allude to the nefarious and monstrous custom of ejecting tenants who
have made improvements, or, when permitted to remain, making them pay
for the improvements which they have made. A vast proportion of this
crying and oppressive evil must be laid directly to the charge of those
who fill the responsible situation of agents to property in Ireland,
than whom in general there does not exist, a more unscrupulous,
oppressive, arrogant, and dishonest class of men. Exceptions of course
there are, and many, but speaking of them as a body, we unhappily assert
nothing but what the condition of property, and of those who live upon
it, do at this moment and have for many a year testified.

Several months had now elapsed, and although the M'Mahons had waited
upon the agent once or twice since the interview which we have already
described between him and Tom, yet there seemed no corresponding anxiety
on the part of Fethertonge to have the leases prepared or executed. This
neglect or reluctance did not occasion much uneasiness to the old man,
who was full of that generous and unsuspecting confidence that his
countrymen always repose in the promise of a landlord respecting a
lease, which they look upon, or did at least, as something absolutely
inviolable and sacred, as indeed it ought to be. Bryan, however, who,
although a young man, was not destitute of either observation or the
experience which it bestows, and who, moreover, had no disposition to
place unlimited confidence in Fethertonge, began to entertain some vague
suspicions with reference to the delay. Fethertonge, however, had not
the reputation of being a harsh man, or particularly unjust in his
dealings with the world; on the contrary, he was rather liked than
otherwise; for so soft was the melody of his voice, and so irresistible
the friendship and urbanity of his manner, that many persons felt as
much gratified by the refusal of a favor from him as they did at its
being granted by another. At length, towards the close of October, Bryan
himself told his father that he would, call upon the agent and urge him
to expedite the matter of the leases. "I don't know how it is," said
he, "but some way or other I don't feel comfortable about this business:
Fethertonge is very civil and very dacent, and is well spoken of in
general; but for all that there's always a man here an' there that says
he's not to be depended on."

"Troth an' he is to be depended