ayment
of one year's rent and costs, and to give time for payment of the
costs as stated in my Solicitor's letter of the 2d June 1887 to
Canon Scully.

This offer was refused, and the writs for possession have been
lodged with the Sheriff.

I never commenced these proceedings in a vindictive spirit, or with
any desire to punish any of you for your ungracious conduct, but
simply to protect my property from unjust and unreasonable demands.

You will owe two years' rent next month (September), and I now
write you this circular letter to point out to each, individually,
the position of the tenants under eviction, and even at this late
hour to give them an opportunity of saving their holdings, to
enable them to do so, and with a view to settlement, I am now
prepared to allow 20 per cent. all round, on payment of a year's
rent and costs.

Under no circumstance will I forego payment of costs, as they must
be paid in full.

If this money be paid forthwith, I will arrange with my brother,
the purchaser, to restore the four holdings purchased by him at
sheriff's sale to the late tenants.

After this offer I disclaim any responsibility for the result of
the evictions, and the loss attendant thereon, as it now remains
with you to avert same.

All the evictions have since been carried out, and the Land Corporation
men are at work upon the estate! Whom has all this advantaged? The
tenants?--Certainly not. The O'Grady?--Certainly not. The peace and
order of Ireland?--Certainly not. But it has given the National League
another appeal to the intelligent "sympathies" of England and America.
It has strengthened the revolutionary element in Irish society. It has
"driven another nail into the coffin" of Irish landlordism and of the
private ownership of land throughout Great Britain.

Such at least is the opinion of Mr. Kavanagh. If I were an Englishman or
a Scotchman, I should be strongly inclined to take very serious account
of this opinion in forecasting the future of landed property in England
or Scotland.

CHAPTER XII.

GREENANE HOUSE, THOMASTOWN, _March 5th._--The breakfast-room at Borris
this morning was gay with pink coats. A meet was to come off at a place
between Borris and Thomastown, and bidding fare-well to my cordial host
and hostess, I set out at 11 o'clock for a flying visit to this quaint
and charming house o