"We recommend that a summary jurisdiction should be given to magistrates at petty sessions, to hear and adjudicate upon disputes respecting con-acre, where the plot of ground shall not exceed half an acre. Where a cottier is summoned before magistrates for trespass committed by his pig, or for a nuisance, in his having a heap of manure upon a public road, it appears not unfrequently that the person under whom he holds his cabin has furnished neither the means nor place to erect a pig cot, or keep his dung-heap from the road. It is worthy of consideration, whether, as suggested by several witnesses, a fine might not be imposed upon the person who has let the cabin without adjuncts, necessary alike to the public convenience, and for afford ing the means of sustenance to the poor cottier; and whether, in such cases, it might not be desirable to empower magistrates at petty sessions to require the person by whom the cabin is let, to provide such adjuncts where possible; and that, in default of doing so, he should be liable to a fine. Considering also the wretched condition in which so many cabins in Ireland are found, and the sufferings and disease to which our fellow-creatures, living in such hovels, are exposed, it would be extremely desirable, if it were possible to effect it, that in all cases of cottier holdings the person who lets the cabin should be bound to keep it in sufficient repair, and that he should be compellable by magistrates to do so. It may also be proper to enact that the person letting a cabin shall not be entitled to recover his rent by any legal process, if it can be shown that he has not kept it in tenantable repair. "We cannot, however, disguise from ourselves the great difficulty of dealing by law with such matters, and the danger lest evils of this nature may be aggravated rather than diminished, by too hasty attempts to remove them by legislation. We have therefore felt ourselves unable to recommend any direct measure for that purpose. "We trust the exposure of such a state of things may lead to its remedy." The Commissioners then report upon the CHARGES ON LAND -COUNTY CESS. - AGRARIAN OUTRAGES. "In a former part of this Report, when we expressed our favourable opinion of the general state of the country, we felt it necessary to allude to some lamentable exceptions. We regret to find that these exceptions appear to be on the increase. "We made inquiry, throughout the whole of our tour, respecting the existence of agrarian outrages. "In Tipperary for a long time past, and in some other counties more recently, there has prevailed a system of lawless violence, which has led in numerous instances to the perpretation of cold-blooded murders. "These are generally acts of revenge for some supposed injury inflicted upon the party who commits or instigates the commission of the outrage. But the notions entertained of injury in such cases, are regulated by a standard fixed by the will of the most lawless and unprincipled members of the community. : "If a tenant is removed, even after repeated warnings, from land which he has neglected or misused, he is looked upon, in the districts to which we are now referring, as an injured man, and the decree too often goes out for vengeance upon the landlord or the agent, and upon the man who succeeds to the farm and at times, a large numerical proportion of the neighbourhood look with indifference upon the most atrocious acts of violence, and by screening the criminal, abet and encourage the crime. Murders are perpetrated at noon-day on a public highway, and whilst the assassin coolly retires, the people look on, and evince no horror at the bloody deed. "The whole nature of Christian men appears, in such cases, to be changed, and the one absorbing feeling as to the possession of land stifles all others, and extinguishes the plainest principles of humanity. "We cannot but feel that this state of things calls loudly for correction, although it does not come within our province to discuss what measures should be adopted under such circumstances for the detection and repression of crime. "It must be obvious that none of the suggestions which we have offered, nor any measures founded upon them, which Parliament or Government could devise, can be applicable to a state of things so appalling and disorganized as that which we have described. We have given our best and most anxious consideration to the means of ameliorating the condition of the well disposed Irish peasant, and we feel that the greatest allowance is to be made for his sufferings, his poverty, his ignorance; but we can make no allowance for the de liberate cold-blooded assassin, or for those who abet assassination. "We wish it were possible to make the peasantry in these unhap py districts aware, that all measures for improvement presuppose the security of life and property; that the districts in which both are systematically rendered insecure, must be regarded as beyond the reach of such plans of amelioration as we can suggest; and that while crimes of so fearful a character prevail, it is hopeless to expect, in reference to those districts, much practical improvement in the relation of landlord and tenant, or any security for the permanent happiness of the people. "We have thus endeavoured to lay before your Majesty, the conclusions at which we have arrived, after the extensive inquiry in which we have been engaged. We are well aware of the difficulties that surround the whole subject of that inquiry. "One class of persons have been accustomed to look exclusively to legislative interference for a removal of the evils to which Ireland is exposed; whilst others despair entirely of any beneficial effect upon her social condition from such interference. "We do not agree with either of these classes. We know that the best directed measures of Parliament cannot produce the desired effect, unless aided and enforced by the steady as well as active exertions of the people of all ranks and conditions in their respective spheres; but we are at the same time satisfied that a very benefi cial change may be effected by the united and vigorous efforts of the legislature, and of individuals. 66 We cannot despair when we find a country enjoying such natural advantages as Ireland possesses, with a large extent of uncultivated or unimproved land, and a numerous population, able and willing to labour if opportunities are afforded to them. On the contrary, we confidently believe, that by an examination of the facts as they actually exist, and by a close attention to details, means may be found for removing many or most of those partial and particular obstacles, which have hitherto so greatly impeded the beneficial employment of labour, and obstructed the enjoyment of those advantages which a country such as Ireland is calculated to afford. "But this desirable result cannot be looked for, unless the united and vigorous efforts of all classes in Ireland are directed towards it. "Instances are to be seen in every part of the country, of estates, upon which the liberal conduct and active superintendence of a resident landlord, or of a resident and judicious agent, have established a system of progressive improvement as to the land, and of increasing comfort to the people, which are unfortunately wanting in many other dis tricts. all circumstances, in order that they may apply those remedies which shall be appropriate to the case, as well as efficient for the purpose of relief. The voluminous evidence collected by us, in all parts of Ireland, with the numerous returns and other documents transmitted to us, present a mass of information upon the social condition of that country, which must serve as a useful guide to all who desire to employ their efforts for improvement in the right direction, and upon sound principles; and we feel satisfied that great advantage may be derived from placing in their true light many facts and circumstances hitherto little known or greatly misunderstood. "Whilst we have, in various parts of this Report, made observations, in the nature of advice, to some of those who are landlords in Ireland, we trust, at the same time, to be permitted to remark shortly upon the conduct too often pursued by some of the class of tenants. There is frequently a readiness amongst these to attribute their own wretched condition exclusively to the conduct of their landlords, sometimes with an utter disregard of truth, and almost always without admitting, perhaps without seeing, how much of it arises from their own indolence or want of skill. "The truth is, to use a familiar expression, that faults are in many cases to be found on both sides; and considering how uninformed a large portion of the Irish population is, a heavy responsibility rests upon all those to whom the poorer classes have a right to look for information and advice. "The foundation of almost all the evils by which the social con dition of Ireland is disturbed, is to be traced to those feelings of mutual distrust, which too often separate the classes of landlord and tenant, and prevent all united exertion for the common benefit. 66 It has been truly said, that confidence is a plant of slow growth. It is, however, a plant which will flourish well in Irish soil, if cultivated with patience and with care. "We say particularly with patience, because we believe that many excellent persons, having the best intentions towards improving the cultivation of the soil and the condition of the people in Ireland, have been too easily diverted from their course by feelings of disappointment at the slow progress which is made towards the attainment of those ends, and the little result which is perceived from their most anxious endeavours. "We would earnestly impress upon such and upon persons, all who have the interest of Ireland at heart, not hastily to relax from those exertions, which circumstances may enable them to make, in forwarding the march of improvement amongst their poorer neighbours. "Without touching upon the political or other causes, which may have contributed to create a feeling of distrust, we cannot dis guise from ourselves, that the Irish peasant is inclined to look with suspicion upon all attempts of his landlord to inculcate new habits, or to introduce new plans for the management of his lands. 66 Every considerate and benevolent landlord will make much allowance for this feeling. He will not suffer any exhibition of it to turn him aside from any scheme of improvement upon which, after deliberation, he has determined to enter. "He must be prepared for frequent disappointment. He will occasionally meet with ingratitude and injustice; but if he perseveres in a spirit of kindness, united with firmness of purpose, he may confidently look to a well-merited reward, probably in the advancement of his personal interest, but certainly in the improvement of the district in which he lives, and the increasing comfort of the people around him. "All which we humbly certify to Your Majesty. 478 PATENTS Granted between 28th December, 1844, and 24th December, 1845. Abbe, A., bandages, Aug. 4 Ackerman, P., harpoons, &c., Nov. 3 Aspinwall, T., ordnance carriages, Atha, R., atmospheric engines, Attwood, C., iron, May 3 Ayre, J., sailcloth, Nov. 15 Beart, R., bricks, Apr. 24 Bedells, C., braces, Jan. 21 Binks, C., manure, Apr. 7 Binks, C., nitrogen, &c., Nov. 3 Boss, J. A., parasols, Jan. 16 Boydell, J., jun., ship building, Nov. 17 Brett, J., atmospheric railways, July 21 Beaumont, G. D. B., propellers, May 8 Brooks, R., jun., `musical instruments, Bedells, C., weaving, July 29 Biddle, R., windmills, Nov. 3 June 12 Brooman, R. A., cements, March 11 Brooman, R. A., gas meters, Nov. 3 Brown, G., seed, &c., plough, Aug. 9 Brown, Sir S., propellers, &c., July 29 |