Chapter XX: 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 0_s._ 6_d._, 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.