BOYCOTTING.

Kumara Times, Issue 1365, 15 February 1881, Page 2

BOYCOTTING.

Mr W. Bence Jones> whose case is exciting considerable interest at Home, writes to the Times as follows :—-

I am sure that Englishmen do not know what their fellow-subjects are suffering at the hands of the present rulers of Ireland. As Tam at present undergoing that form of oppression called u Boycotting," I ask your leave to make the facts known to your readers.

I was born arid bred in England, and, having inherited property in Ireland, I thought it right to do nty duty by the people. I have lived here since I have laid out £SOO a yesir iu permanent improvements—more than .£25,000 in all. I farm largely and successfully, and pay now more than £25 a wee% in wages £l3OO a year. Our beat laborers are paid lis a week, with a good cottage and garden, and as much land for potatoes as they can manure, all free. Others, less good men, get i r os, 9s, and a very few Bs. Several members of a family are often employed. In one such case 398 per week were, dvawu in one house. Every sort of kindn«ss that an English land-owner's family is in the habit of doing for its people and personal goodwill and regard have been freely and heartily returned. Besides the wages paid an equal sum has been spent in other farm expenses. As I have some other income which more than covers the expense of a house in London and all spent there during some months, nothing that I derive from land in Ireland is taken away froui it. I have so improved the condition of ray tenants that, with two or three exceptions, the vent has for the last thirty years been paid punctually in the first weeks in July and December. No one can show a better rent-book. There is not Is of arrears in the rents due at at Lady Day or May Ist. I farm nearly 1000 acres, Griffith's valuation on which is about lis per acre. My net return for rent and interest on May Ist, 1880, was 38s per acre. For several years it has exceeded 40s per acre, and will go much higher I believe. This harvest and potato crop have been the best we have had in Ireland since the famine. All knew my vent day would,be December 7th. For a fortnight before there were reporis that my tenants would be allowed to pay only Griffith's valuation. Thursday, December 2nd, .the tenants received threatening notices by post to thateffect. Friday, December 3rd, a like threatening notice was stuck on my hall door, and a grave six inches deep was dug in. the grass near, which the notice said was for me and my son. Threatening notices to the tenants were also stuck up all over the town. Saturday, the 4th, a speech appeared in t\vo Liberal Cork newspapers, said to have been made on Friday, by Father O'Leary, a youug priest of the parish, of mere vulgar personal abuse of tue, so gross that if any evil had happened to me he could not have escaped being held liable.

Monday, the 6th, there was a fair, at which my tenants were again vehemently threatened, especially those known to be friendly with me. On the 7th the tenants were met coining to my house, and again threatened. A few who came in offered Griffith's valuation with a civility and friendliness that were amusing. They said they had been threatened, and were sorely afraid. Some said they would pay if I asked them, but hoped I should not ; and, above all, that I should not think worse of them for. not paying. The rent of nearly all these meu exceeded

£IOO a .year. Because I would not accept 'Griffith's valuation the L-ind -h League has now sent threatening letters * to all my laborers, ordering theru to leave niii. As I have 406 sheep on turnips and sixty cattle fattening, it is thought that they can injure me" thus.The effort is, of courae, to cause' rile a ' great loss in selling these animal's. All butchers have been forbidden to buy them* I sent three carts df oats last Wednesday to the market; a mob followed therri and frightened all from buying. My laborer* and all others are frightened by this grievous tyranny. This morning (December 13th), hardly anyone at work. I ask Englishmen to consider the cruel wrong thus inflicted j that it is the plain work of the L;ind League, consisting of a few unworthy men aiming at bad ends. All this misery and loss to me, to my laborers, and to hundreds of others who have done no wrong, is allowed to continue in deference to a few members of the Government who fear for the constitutional liberties of those who are inflicting these iniquities on us. In my case there can be no doubt that it is a definite attempt to coerce me intd accepting less than is honestly due. My. tenants have no real part in it, except ond shopkeeper, who is a chief nian in the League. The tenants are coerced. A week after the rule, of Queen Victoria has been Reestablished in Ireland much of the rent will be paid. The laborers are paralysed by fear. The whole mischief is from outside, through the Land. League, who* while they have established a reign of terror, expect to escape by sayirig they disapprove of violence.

While this is iii full force some talk of making con&essidns to the Land League, whose whole object it is td force such money concessions from any, of us, and if large concessions canndfc be hadj then to get smaller ones as an instalment.

Surely, there has never been such a alur on the brave and upright name of England since it was a Bexce Jones. Lisselane, County Corkj '" December 13th;