V 76 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE Mr. Patrick Flood. 9442. Chairman.'] Do I clearly understand you to say, that 111 no statement you have made you have stated that lands have been let subsequent to the year 15 May 1838. 1828, at a lower rent than they were let previous to 1828 ?— So far as it is within my knowledge, I know of no land let so. # 9443. And you never made any statement to a contrary effect to this Com- mittee?— Certainly not. 9444. Then will you have the goodness to state whether you did not make this answer to a question which was put to you on the last day ( 8844); you were speaking of Mr. Greville's agent, Major Thompson ; after having stated that he received from 5/. 5 s. to 7/. Is., for letting lands, and so forth; I asked you " Do you mean to say that he let them improperly low ?" Your answer is " No, I think he did not; I think he gave the tenant a very good interest in it, but he did not give the same interest in the lands that he let in 1829 and 1830. He did not let them within 50 per cent, of the sum in 1829 and 1830, for which he let them in 1827 and 1828 ; townlands of the same quality, under the tithe composition, classed in the same class, are paying 31. 5s. and 3/. 10,?. an acre." I want to know how you reconcile the answer you have just given, with the answer you formerly gave?— I say he did let lands of the same quality at 3/. and 3/. 10s. an acre, which are classed by the commissioners under the Tithe Composition Act at 21, an acre. 9445. Your statement to- day is that Major Thompson valued the land too high in 1830 ?— I think he valued them too high in 1830. 9446. And your statement on the last day was, that he did not let the lands within 50 per cent, of the sum in 1829 and 1830 for which he let them in 1827 and 1828; that was your statement on the last day before this Committee; and you have stated twice to me to- day already, that in no instance had you made any statement of lands being let lower subsequently to 1828 than what they were let previously to 1828 ; I want you to reconcile those two answers ?— I say, in 1828 Major Thompson let lands lower than he has let them since that time. 9447. Then you mean to say, that upon no former occasion you stated that lands were let in 1829 and 1830 at a lower rate than previously to 1828?— I cannot take upon myself to say how lands were let previous to 1828, for I was not in the county. 9448. Mr. Curry.] Read the question and answer, No. 8844.—( The Witness read the same.)— I have made no alteration in that whatever. 9449. When you say there he did not let them within 50 per cent, of the sum in 1829 and 1830 for which he let them in 1827 and 1828, do you mean to say he charged 50 per cent, more or 50 per cent, less?— More; lands were very low at that time. 9450. Did you mean by that expression, he charged 50 per cent, more in 1829 and 1830 than he did in 1828?— Yes. 9451. Chairman.] 1 think you said that Mr. Tuite paid only 1 I an acre for land for which he had been previously paying two guineas an acre?— I think his present rent is 1/. or a guinea. 9452. And before that time he had been paying two guineas ?— He held under a middle landlord before. 9453- Then the moment the head landlord comes into possession, he does not consider what the value of the land is, but lets it by chance ?— No ; this is Lord Southwell's estate, a different estate altogether; I do say that Lord Southwell lets his land 50 per cent, under the value; he might get 50 per cent, more in the market; and the middle landlord is getting a guinea an acre more than Lord Southwell is getting. 9454. And that is the general custom?— Indeed it is not; it is the custom with Lord Southwell; he is one of the best landlords in the county of Longford. 9455- Is that the case with Mr. Greville ?— The late Mr. Greville; the pre- sent Mr. Greville never let any land; he only came over a couple of months ago himself; but I believe he will give the lands for a fair value, that they will not be over let. J 9456. What do you mean by the fair value ?— To give a tenant an interest to pay the rent, and support his family. 94.57. And what interest do you think is necessary for a 10/ holding*— According to the quality of the land and the rent he pays. - 9458. But