29 MARCH 1890, Page 16

THE DONEGAL PEASANTRY.

[TO THE EDITOE OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—B1 my letter about Donegal, the name of the landlord. should be Swiny, not " Irving." He lives near this, on the old territory of his sept, the McSwines of Fanad, and is not at all unpopular. His estate, however, is near Gweedore. I doubt whether the peasants there save much by paying no rent. " The MacFadden Band," I see, cost £67 last year. It does not produce much harmony, in spite of what the music-master says in Moliere. Our own worthy priest only agitates for a railway to this place. The newly proposed railways are exciting great interest : meanwhile, Lord Leitrim has started a steam- boat to Glasgow, which is doing much good. Prices have greatly risen, and tenant-right, not rent, is rising accordingly,. —2140 has just been paid here for a farm which cost £40 ten years ago, and another was sold for £270, the rent of which is £16 9s. I was greatly surprised, but the farmers. say it is worth it; the place is remote among the hills. There were no criminal cases from this large county at the late assizes. Except at Gweedore, it is perfectly peacefuL—I am,