FOOTNOTES
[1] Absenteeism, in its present form, seems to date only from Grattan’s Parliament, but in some shape or another it may be said to date from the British invasion of Ireland, and to result from the very nature of an insular kingdom transferred wholesale to the nobility of a neighbouring state.
[2] A later instance. On August 30th, 1887, two men armed with guns and wearing masks entered the house of Mr. R. Blennerhasset, at Kells, near Cahirciveen; they went upstairs to Mrs. Blennerhasset’s room and demanded money, which they got to the amount of about £2.
[3] My guide was quite right. In a statistical table of trials between July, 1885, and July, 1886, for the County Kerry, I find the following items: maiming cattle, 9; injury to person, 7; murders, 3; firing at persons, 8; firing into houses, 15; threatening letters, 125; intimidation, 36; malicious injury, 22; arson, 19; assaults, 22. The above figures, it should be observed, only relate to outrages brought home to their authors; there can be no doubt that a much larger number of agrarian outrages remain unpunished.
APPENDIX.
EXTRACTS FROM SOME LETTERS ADDRESSED WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS TO AN IRISH LANDLORD BY HIS TENANTS.
The Times has published, on October 10, 1887, an exceedingly interesting batch of letters selected from some three hundred addressed within the last two years to an Irish landowner by his tenants. As the editor of those letters wrote most appropriately, there is perhaps no means whereby truer insight can be obtained into the ways and habits of the Irish peasantry than by studying the letters written by the people themselves. Typically enough, however, the same editor only saw in those letters how “unbusiness-like and illogical is the Irish tenant,” and “the various reasons that an Irishman gives for not paying his rent. One is unable to pay because his uncle is confined to bed, and his daughter suffering from a sore eye; another because a relative has died; a third because his brother-in-law has brought an action against him for money lent, and he has had to pay; one because his family is small, and another because it is large; another—and this is the most common excuse—because he has been unable to sell his stock; another because his wife has a sore hand; another because of the death of a cow; another because the weather is severe and there is a sheriff’s bailiff obstructing him from making up the rent; another because it was God’s will to take all the means he had; another because of the agitation.”
Reasons which, it may be seen, appear to the English eye entirely ridiculous and unbusiness-like.
What strikes a Frenchman most, on the other hand, in the letters, is their touching simplicity, the appalling instability of a budget that the least domestic mishap is enough to upset, and the fruitless attempt of the poor man to penetrate into the real cause of the burden under which he is panting; in the comments, the utter incapacity of the British landlord to understand his Irish tenantry even when he is a good landlord, which is obviously (perhaps too obviously) the case here.
The letters are thus characteristic in more than one sense. Whatever the angle under which they are read, they undoubtedly remain first-class documentary evidence.
8th Jany., 1887.
To * * * *, Esq.
Sir,—I received a letter yesterday from Mr. G⸺ who demanded the payment of £31 0s. 6d., rent due up to 29 Sept. 1886. I was in with Mr. G⸺ this day & he told me that he had no further instructions than what was contained in his note. Now my Uncle has been confined through illness to his bed since last June, & my daughter has been under medical treatment since last September for a sore eye which proceeded from a bad tooth, & I even had to pay the Dentist ten shillings for extracting it, as the Doctor could not do so. I trust you will kindly take into consideration my position and stay proceedings, & I will send you £18 next Saturday & the remainder about the 13th February, the day after fair of K⸺.
Your obedt. Servant
* * * *
The following is also from the same man:—
Sir,—I would have sent you the remainder of the rent on the day mentioned but the old man died & I had extra expenses but if you would kindly wait until about the 25th of March I will be able to let you have it.
Your obedient servant
* * * *
9th March, 1887.
Sir,—I have yours of the 4th inst. & am very sorry to say I have met a reverse & cant pay up to my word. I took a Brother-in-law to live with me—he was a tenant of your property who lost the power of his limbs & obliged to get into Hospital, his daughter my niece who I reared went to America she died there after saving a good deal of money her father after much trouble got £200 of it & after being 17 years in the Hospital he had to leave it having means to live & he requested to come to live with me which I allowed, & being maintained as one of my family for 12 months up to Wedy. last he now sued me for £50 which he lent me while here. He is at other lodgings & subject to evil advice but he fell out with me while here & since has been most ungrateful. I done my best to get this law put back but failed & had to pay the money I had made to pay my rent. I am much grieved being obliged to ask to the middle of next month to pay it. I wont have any fairs sooner to sell my stores but I will surly have it about the 20th April if not sooner. You may be sure only what happened me I would have paid up to my promise.
Your obt servt
* * * *
10th March.
Mr. ⸺. After all I built & what I ow in shops & from the loss of sheep I am not abell to pay but if you forgive me this half year’s rent you will save me from destruction, and if so I will keep it a profound sacred. I promis I will never again ask anything of you & will be punctual in future, my family is small & my health not good to go travell. I brought a dale of money in to this farm 5 years ago and it is all gon now. I apeal to your kind genariss hart to do this for me & may the almitey god give your self & your children the Kingdom of hevan.
I remain most respectfully
* * * *
January 9th.
Dear Sir,—In reply to youre noat I am verrey sorrey that I can do nothing at the presant it is out of my power I have nothing to sell unlss I sell what I have to ate my self and seven littel children. I had but one calf to sell to pay you and it was the will of provedence to take him, he died. I have but one cow & I had hur in the fair of N⸺ and all I could get for her was four pounds, so if you presede with the law as yore lawyer sayes he will I must sell hur to pay you
Your humbel tennant
* * * *
August 31.
Sir, — I promised the rent after the fair of K⸺ in June. I had three calves in it & covld not sell. I took three months grass for them to see could I do better. I intend to have them in D⸺ on the 12th & if I sell them I will send the rent after that. I would have wrote only expecting to have the rent before this. My wife took a sore hand & is in hospital this two months & is in it still so its poor times with me.
Your tennant
* * * *
11th March.
Sir,—In reply to your letter dated 5th inst. I beg to ask your honour the favour of a few days grace. I hope to be able to meet your demands by the time you call to collect your rents in April. In the meantime I might have an opportunity of setting the fields in Con acre.
Being a lone widow with two helpless children one of them of weak intellect I hope your honour will kindly consider my case.
I am Sir your Honour’s most obedient & humble servant
* * * *
January 19.
Sir,—I received your letter, it is not in my power to make money for you now as I had to borrow some of your last rent which is not all paid yeat on account of the death of my fine cow that died. I will use my best endavours against May.
Your ob. servt
* * * *
September 26.
Dear Sir,—I make apail to you at the present time that I am endeavring at this time to make up the rent. Now I would have it sooner but the weather for the harvest was savere, sore I could not help it Der Sir, there is a man who is a Sheirf’s baliff is going to injure me & to obstruct me in making up the rent for you which I would hope soon to have value for. Dear Sir I apail to you that you will not allow but Dis allow injuring a poor tenant who is endeavring to make up the rent. I would say one thing that I believe he is at least without maners. I apail to you that you will not allow to obstruct making out rent as quck as posible. one thing I wonder much that you would permit him or such as him any place. I will refrain on that presnt. I will ask this request off Mr. ⸺ as soon as I can get the rent will he be kind enough to take it from me. I will ask the favour of you to give return as it may plaise you. Excuse my hand riting.
Yours truly
* * * *
August 2nd.
Mr. ⸺. I received Mr. G⸺’s letter on the 31st of July. I am sorry I am not able to pay at preasant. I am willing to pay my rent but it was God’s will to take all the mains I had intended to meet you. I hope you will be so kind to give time untell October, as it is so hard to make money
Your obt. servent
Pat. F⸺.
Wensdy 19th.
* * * * Esq. Sir,—I received your letter & will send you the rent as soon as I can. There was no price for cattle in the fairs that is past, in fact the could not be sold atol. I expect to make the rent in the fair of K⸺. I could always pay my rent but this cursed agetation has destroyed our country but I hope the worst of it is over
I remain Your Obedient Servant
* * * *
The following letters also relate to the payment of rent:—
October 10.
Sir,—I did not receive your letter ontill this Day. It has given me a great surprise I hope your Honour will not put me to cost I have a little best to sell, and after the fair in C⸺, a thursday I will send it to yo and I hop yo will not put me to cost. I hop your honour will feel for me
truly
* * * *
October 4th.
Mr. ⸺. Sir,—I was again disappointed in the fair at N⸺ in selling my cattle and I must ask time of you till I get sale for if possible I will sell them in the fair of C⸺ do not once imagine that I am not enclined to pay but I never was offered a price for my cattle. I was speaking to some of the tenants and the would wish to see you in N⸺ the rent day as the want to know what you want for your land
Yours respectfully,
* * * *
Sir,—I was very sory to see your hon goeing back without the rient.
I was willing to pay that day but I could not. I send you my half-year’s rent £13 10, so I hope your hon will luck after turf for me there is no ous in asking it of Mr. F⸺ There is to banks idle on the tients part on F⸺ and Mrs. N⸺ has 30 banks set this year so I count it very unfare if we doent get one The old men was geoing to kill us when we did not pay your hon the day you ware in N⸺ We ware all sory we did not settle that day
I remane your obdient servant
* * * *
rember the tturf.
The following is in the same handwriting as the last, but signed by another tenant:—
Dear Sir,—You spoke of referring to Mr. F⸺ for turf, we did not like to intrupeed (query, interrupt) yur hon at that time. Well sir there is too banks of your own on the tients part an Mrs. N⸺ is giveing turf to men on the five different estates Every one that wonted turf got it but two tients no one els wonts it besids, so I hope your hon will luck to us. I am willing to pay my way if I get a chance. N⸺ D⸺ has turf this 40 years No one wants it but P⸺ F⸺ & M⸺ T⸺. We would pay your hon ondly for the rest
Believe me Your obedient servent
M⸺ T⸺.
do what your hon can about the turf
November 23rd 86.
Honoured Sir,—I got both your letters & replidd to the first & directed it to D⸺ in which I asked for a little time to pay the rent I had some young cattle in the fair of K⸺ and did not sell them. It will greatly oblige me if your Honour will give me time untill the Christmas fair of F⸺ as I have some pigs to sell that will meet this rent & that would leave me the cattle to meet the May rent as the young cattle I have is not fit to sell at preasant.
I feel sorry to have to trespass on your Honour, but the times are bad and it is hard to make money, but I hope we will soon have better times under the present Government, and that all those mob laws will soon be at an end.
I remain your humble servant,
* * * *
It shows a curious state of things when a would-be tenant thinks it necessary to assure the landlord that he knows the farm belongs to him:—
April 12, 1887.
To Mr. * * * *
Sir,—Just a few lines to let your honour know that my father is very delicate for the past tow months and not expected to recover. I would like to let your honour know that it was mee that minded your Property for the last ten years. I know that this place always belongs to you and that the emprovements cost no one But your self a shilling. I would like to know how mutch my father is in your dept.
I remain your honors faiteful servant,
James T⸺.
The following contain offers of cattle in lieu of rent, a form of payment which Irish tenants are always anxious to adopt if they can, for though they declare there will be no difference about the price, they always expect the landlord to give them considerably more than the market value:—
January 18.
Dear Sir,—I am not able to answer you with money at present. I have the heifer that I told you of and if you wish I will send her to T⸺ for you, and I expect your honor and I wont differ.
Your obedient servent,
Patrick F⸺y.
Jany 5th.
Sir,—I have 5 nice bullocks to sell if you would buy them. I have no other way of paying the rent.
F⸺ D⸺.
October 14th.
Dear Sir and pleas your honour,—I hope in you that you wont buy all the cattle you want in S⸺ town. Patrick D⸺ has a lot greasing with the father-in-law at C⸺; he intends to meet your honour with them. Pleas, Sir, leave room for three Bullocks, I have them greasing with you above the road all the summer.
Your faithful servant,
Michl. T⸺.
I am setten some of my children and it has left me bare in monney.
Novr 12th.
Dear Sir,—I will give three two-year-old Bullicks good owns for next May rent. I will leave the vallue to your honour when you come down before Christamas. I was offered £15 pounds for the three last June; £5 each from Mr. ⸺ the Miller of C⸺. I never took them out since. I have no father for them. Your honour has plenty of straw to give them, the will make good Bullocks on it. Your honour must get them les than vallue
Your truly faithfull servent,
* * * *
THE END.
BRADBURY, AGNEW, & CO., PRINTERS, WHITEFRIARS.