Many of the Irish landlords, whose views are expressed in
the pamphlet on " Contract or Confiscation ?" noticed elsewhere, are still opposed to any concession of fixity of tenure. Many more, however, including a large number of Liberal Peers, like Lord Monck, Lord Powerscourt, and Lord Emly, have issued a pam- phlet, in which they accept the principle of the three F's,—fixity, free sale, and fair rent. They suggest that farms should be re- valued at stated periods, that subject to such valuation by a Court of Tenure fee-farm grants should be conceded to tenants, and that the landlord's security for his rent should be his right to apply to the Court to compel the tenant to sell his holding. It is towards some law of this kind that all opinion is gravitating, men as determined as Lord Lifford announcing that they will accept it, and Liberals generally assenting, though with a doubt in some quarters about revaluation. It must not be forgotten, in considering that last point, that there are no means of pre- -dieting the future course of prices. It is quite possible that Canadian butter, cheese, and meat may run Ireland hard, and that a heavy fall may occur in the price of barley. There are signs of the latter fall already. In this event, the revaluation of rents will be indispensable, in the interests of the tenants, or we may see the present troubles recommence, on the first decline in values.
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