IRISH TENANTS-AT-WILL.
(TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.")
SLa,—What is the practical remedy for the state of things described in Mr. Shepherd's letter, in your issue of December 27th? Not, I think, any nearer approach to "fixity of tenure" than the present law gives, but a direct protection to the tenant against the demand for an unreasonably increased rent,—a rent, that is, so increased as to confiscate the interest on the value of the tenant's improvements. I believe that demands of this sort are not made on any well-managed estates, now ; but many petty landlords exist who are capable of making them, and if agriculture is to flourish and improve in Ireland under the pre- sent system of small holders making all their own improve- ments, the law must protect the tenant directly against such de- mands, and not only indirectly, by holding an eviction on the ground of a tenant's refusal to pay an unreasonably increased rent to be "capricious," and allowing compensation for disturb- ance accordingly, as now. I believe that if the Land Act were amended in this sense, the other demands of the Irish agitators would be little more heard of.—I am, Sir, &c., H. DE F. MONTGOMERY.
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