ne hand, and the tenant on the other, the state of a country so
circumstanced with respect to landed property and its condition may be
easily conceived.

In addition, however, to all we have already detailed, as affecting
the neighborhood of Ahadarra, we have to inform our readers that the
tenantry upon the surrounding property were soon about to enjoy the
luxury of a contested election. Chevydale had been the sitting member
during two sessions of Parliament. He was, as we have already stated,
an Emancipator and Liberal; but we need scarcely say that he did not
get his seat upon these principles. He had been a convert to Liberalism
since his election, and at the approaching crisis stood, it was thought,
but an indifferent chance of being re-elected. The gentleman who had sat
before was a sturdy Conservative, a good deal bigoted in politics, but
possessing that rare and inestimable quality, or rather combination of
qualities which constitute an honest man. He was a Major Vanston, a man
of good property, and although somewhat deficient in the _suaviter in
modo_, yet in consequence of his worth and sincerity, he was rather a
favorite with the people, who in general relish sincerity and honesty
wherever they find them in public men.

Having thus far digressed, we now beg leave to resume our narrative and
once more return, from the contemplation of a state of things so painful
to the progress of those circumstances which involve the fate of our
humble individuals who constitute our _dramatis personae_.

The seizure of the distillery apparatus on M'Mahon's farm of Ahadarra,
was in a few days followed by knowledge of the ruin in which it must
necessarily involve that excellent and industrious young man. At
this time there was an act of parliament in existence against illicit
distillation, but of so recent a date that it was only when a seizure
similar to the foregoing had been made, that the people in any
particular district became acquainted with it. By this enactment the
offending individual was looked upon as having no farther violated
the laws in that case made and provided, than those who had never been
engaged in such pursuits at all. In other words, the innocent, were
equally punished with the guilty. A heavy fine was imposed--not on the
offender, but on the whole townland in which he lived; so that the
guilt of one individual was not visited as it ought to have been on the
culprit himself, but equally distributed in