Mr. Fowler, M.P. fer Cambridge, insisting on the admission that
free contract Is only impossible for the very small and poor tenants, proposed that no farmers paying a rent over £50 should be entitled to any "damages for eviction,"—to anything, that is, '.beyond their claim for real improvements,—and was strongly sup- -ported by Sir Roundel' Palmer. Mr. Gladstone agreed to except the large grazing farmers from the right to damages for eviction, and to limit the total claim of all the larger farmers (above £50 a 'year) to a maximum of 1250 (as proposed by Mr. Samuelson), but lie keenly resisted Mr. Fowler's amendment, declaring that he had already conceded so much to the Conservative feeling of the House as to lose considerable moral support in Ireland. More- over, such a rule would tend dangerously to promote consolidation -of £20 and £30 farms into £50 and £60 farms, and would, more- over, place a gulf between the rights of holders of farms at £45 and holders of farms at £55, which could not be justified by any- thing in their circumstances. He said, very wisely, that he would sooner drop the Bill than agree to it. On this, Sir R. Palmer tried to persuade Mr. Fowler to withdraw his amendment, but did not succeed. Loudly proclaiming his loyalty, Mr. Fowler divided against the Government, and obtained 218 votes against 250,— leaving the Government a majority of only 32.
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