\ 48 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE Courtenay Esq 72Q1. Consequently they would have had no legal ground 01 complaint if they __ had been dispossessed without any remuneration whatever ?— I hey would not. 27 March 1838. 7292. How far has the experiment been successful at all of substituting Pro- testant for Roman- catholic tenants ?— Upon Lord Lorton's estate it has not been successful, because they do not suffer them to live there. 7293. Upon Lord Lorton's estate, has any Protestant tenant succeeded in keeping his farm ?— Some of them remain there still, but in so unsettled a state that they will not commence the improvements in their system of agriculture which they were brought there to pursue. 7294. So that the object to be attained, namely, an improvement in the system of cultivating the property, has failed ?— So far it has failed. 729",. With reference " to Mr. Lefroy's tenants, how far has it succeeded in that case?— A good deal better; it has succeeded rather well there. 7296. Has any violence been offered to any of his Protestant tenants?— The house has been attacked, and their fire- arms have been taken in one or two instances; one man's cattle were killed at night: but lam not aware of any other instances upon Mr. Lefroy's estate. 7297. Have the parties been apprehended or brought to justice for those violences, with reference to Mr. Lefroy's tenants ?— The killing the cattle, men were tried for it, and acquitted. 7298. Were those parties connected with the individuals who had previously held the land ?— They were not. 7299. How long ago is it since that outrage was committed?— Three years ago. 7300. For the last three years have those Protestant tenants been left in peace? — With the exception of taking their fire- arms. 7301. How long ago is it since an occurrence of that sort took place? — Since the election in last August. 7302. What effect has the latter outrage had upon their cultivation ; has it in any way interfered with the improvement of the system?— It has caused them to complain, and to appear to be in an unsettled state. 7303. Has it had the effect of making them unwilling to remain upon the property?— I do not think it has. 7304. Have they been successful in cultivating the land in a style superior to that in which the previous tenants had cultivated it?— Certainly. 7305. Do you see any advantage arising from the improved mode of cultiva- tion employed by the new tenants?— Yes; I think the example is followed by their Roman- catholic neighbours in many instances. 7306. That improvement in the system of cultivation then would render the other tenants more comfortable in their situation than they had been previously ? — I conceive it would, and when they live in friendship and upon good terms, I think it is the best thing that could happen. 7307. Are the Protestant and Roman- catholic tenantry upon good terms, generally speaking?— Upon Mr. Lefroy's estate they appear to be upon very good terms. 7308. You have not found any sectarian animosity arising between them ?— No, I have not. 7309. Have you upon any other property?— Upon Lord Lorton's property I have. 7310. Arising from the violence you have described ?— Arising from the violence and murders I have described. 7311. With reference to any other property where Protestant tenants have been substituted for Roman- catholics, how do they live together now ?— There is no other estate, with which I am connected, upon which there has been any experi- ment of that sort made. 7312. Mr. O'Connell] Do you mean to say that Roman- catholic tenantry could not be found as capable of cultivation and improvement as Protestant tenantry?— I do not; I know where the holdings are large, where they get the same advantages as in the cases which I have mentioned, where the Roman- catholics have been continued upon some of the estates, where their holdings have been enlarged, and they have been treated in the same way as the Protestants, they are just as good tenants. 7313. And as improving?— I think now as improving; before their holdings were enlarged they were negligent and slovenly, and that they did not seem To have