Mr. Chaplin, in moving the rejection of the Bill, of
course raised the scream of confiscated property, and mentioned a case in which a solicitor, who had been about to advance 215,000 on a mortgage of land in the scheduled districts, drew back from the offer on hearing of Mr. Forster's Bill. Mr. Russell, Q.C., in a very powerful speech, showed that the purport of the Bill was this,—under very exceptional circumstances, and for a very short period, to put the tenant who was unable fully to pay his rent, but was willing, in the opinion of the Court, to do all he could towards paying it, under the protection he would always have had in ordinary years by virtue of his right to compensa- tion; and which he already has in cases of small holdings, where the rent is "exorbitant," in spite of not having paid his rent punctually. In the adjourned debate last Tuesday, Mr. Totten- ham, M.P. for Leitrim, made a vigorous speech on behalf of the landowners in the distressed districts, showing to what im- positions on the part of the tenantry they are subjected, and how the Land League is diffusing a universal idea that it is not wrong to cheat the landlord of his rent; while the Attorney- General for Ireland, Mr. Law, replied in a very powerful speech, intimating that the Government are steadily resisting this spirit, and ask for this Act only to avoid being compelled to use the whole power of the State in cases of hardship on behalf of a law of ejectment inhumanely and selfishly applied,—a rare case, no doubt, but still a case actually occurring and essential to provide against. The debate was adjourned to this day.
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