nant, even if he paid much less per
acre than the native peasant. I draw particular attention to the
latter fact, as one of the popular grievances sorely and lengthily
dwelt upon is that the oppressor not only took the land from the
people, evicted them, and demolished their cabins with crowbars, but
that he let his property to the hated foreigner for less than the
natives had paid and were willing to pay, or promised to pay, him. He
let land by thousands of acres to Englishmen and Scotchmen at a pound
an acre, whereas he had received twenty-five and thirty shillings from
the starving peasants of Connaught. This was deliberate cruelty,
framed to drive the people away who were willing to stay and pay their
high rents as of old. But the fact unfortunately was that Lord Lucan,
Lord Sligo, and other great landowners in county Mayo had found it so
difficult to get rent out of their tenants that they determined to let
their land to large farmers only, at such a price as they could get,
but with the certainty that the rent, whatever it was, would be well
and duly paid, and there would be an end to the matter. This, I hear,
is the true history of the eviction of the old tenants and the letting
of great tracts of land to tenants like Mr. Simpson on favourable
terms. The landlord knew that he would get his rent, and he has got
it, that is, hitherto.

The story of the great farm, colossal for this part of the country,
leased by Mr. Simpson from Lord Lucan, and now on that nobleman's
hands, is a curious one as revealing the real capacity of the soil
when properly handled. Twenty-two hundred Irish acres at as many
pounds sterling per annum represent in Mayo an immense transaction.
The tenant came to his work with capital and ripe experience, farmed
well, and, I am assured on the best authority, fared well, getting a
handsome return for his capital. So satisfied was he with his bargain,
that he offered to renew his agreement with Lord Lucan if he were
allowed a deduction for the false measurement of the acreage of the
farm, which had been corrected by a subsequent survey. As I am
instructed, there were not 2,200 acres, but the tenant was quite
willing to pay a pound per acre for what was there. Now, an Irish acre
is so much bigger than an English acre that thirty acres Irish
measurement make forty-nine English. Lord Lucan consequently thought
the farm cheaply let, and hesitated to make any allowance. This
negotiation began last spri