rrect," observed the Colonel, "you
know the Irish peasantry much better than I do. Decidedly, I have
always thought them in conversation exceedingly candid and sincere. With
respect to testimonials from priests to landlords in behalf of their
tenants, upon my honor I am sick of them. I actually received, about
four years ago, such an excellent character of two tenants, as induced
me to suppose them worthy of encouragement. But what was the fact? Why,
sir, they were two of the greatest firebrands on my estate, and put both
me and my agent to great trouble and expense. No, sir, I wouldn't give
a curse for a priest's testimonial upon such an occasion. These fellows
were subsequently convicted of arson on the clearest evidence, and
transported."

"Well, sir, I grant that you may have been misled in that instance.
However, from what I've observed, the two great faults of Irish
landlords are these:--In the first place, they suffer themselves
to remain ignorant of their tenantry; so much so, indeed, that they
frequently deny them access and redress when the poor people are anxious
to acquaint them with their grievances; for it is usual with landlords
to refer them to those very agents against whose cruelty and rapacity
they are appealing. This is a _carte blanche_ to the agent to trample
upon them if he pleases. In the next place, Irish landlords too
frequently employ ignorant and needy men to manage their estates; men
who have no character, no property, or standing in society, beyond the
reputation of being keen shrewd, and active. These persons, sir, make
fortunes; and what means can they have of accumulating wealth, except by
cheating either the landlord or his tenants, or both? A history of
their conduct would be a black catalogue of dishonesty, oppression, and
treachery. Respectable men, resident on or-near the estate, possessing
both character and property, should always be selected for this
important trust. But, above all things, the curse of a tenantry is
a percentage agent. He racks, and drives, and oppresses, without
consideration either of market or produce, in order that his receipts
may be ample, and his own income large."

"Why, O'Brien, you appear to be better acquainted with all this sort of
thing than I, who am a landed proprietor."

"By the by, sir, without meaning you any disrespect, it is the landlords
of Ireland who know least about the great mass of its inhabitants; and
I might also add, about its hist