hands of their worst and bitterest enemies. I say so deliberately; for
I find that nothing so strongly recommends a man to the office
of magistrate, or, indeed, to any office under government, as the
circumstance of being a strong, conspicuous anti-Catholic. In writing
to you, my dear Spinageberd, you may rest assured that I will give
expression to nothing but truths which are too well known to be
contradicted. The subject of property in Ireland, is one, which,
inasmuch as it is surrounded with great difficulties, is also entitled
to great consideration.

"If there be any one prejudice in the character of an Irish peasant
stronger or more dangerous than another--and he has many, they say, that
are both strong and dangerous--it is that which relates to property and
the possession of it. This prejudice is, indeed, so conscious of its own
strength, and imbued in this opinion with so deep a conviction of its
justice, that, in ordinary circumstances, it scorns the aid of all
collateral and subordinate principles and even flings religion aside, as
an unnecessary ally, justice, therefore, or oppression, or partiality in
the administration of property, constitutes the greatest crime known to
the agrarian law, and is consequently resisted by the most unmitigable
and remorseless punishment. The peasant who feels, or believes himself
to be treated with injustice, or cruelty, never pauses to reflect upon
the religion of the man whom he looks upon as his oppressor. He will
shoot a Catholic landlord or agent from behind a hedge, with as much
good will as he would a Protestant. Indeed, in general, he will prefer a
Protestant landlord to those of his own creed, knowing well, as he does,
that the latter, where they are possessed of property, constitute the
very worst class of landlords in the kingdom. As religion, therefore, is
not at all necessarily mixed up with the Irishman's prejudices as this
subject--it is consequently both dangerous and wicked to force it to an
adhesion with so dreadful a principle as that which resorts to noon-day
or midnight murder. This is unfortunately what such fellows as this
M'Clutchy do. They find the Irish peasant with but one formidable
prejudice in relation to property, and by a course of neglect,
oppression, and rapacity, joined to all the malignant rancor of
religious bigotry and party feeling, they leave him goaded by a hundred.
I believe in my soul that there are many fire-brands like M'Clutchy in