Earl Grosvenor on Tuesday asked the House of Commons to
remit the whole or part of a sum of £.260,000 borrowed by Cheshire to pay compensation to the owners of cattle slaughtered during the plague, and now a burden upon the county rates. We do not think we ever heard of anything quite so magnificently mean. The landowners of Cheshire first insist that their tenantry shall be recouped out of rates for losses incurred in business, losses quite trumpery in comparison with those incurred in many trades during bad years ; then force Government to lend the county the money at 3 percent., and then petition to be let off payment at the national expense. The richest man in England, in fact, asks for a grant in aid of his rental. Earl Grosvenor argued that he spoke in the interest of poor townspeople, who would have to pay im much more for their butter, milk, and beef; but if the Cheshire landlords are moved by those humane considerations, they have an easy remedy. The new rate, against which even Grosvenors are compelled to remonstrate, is lid. in the pound. Let the landlords reduce their rents that much, and set down the outlay as charity. Richesse oblige.
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