BOYCOTTING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 34, 9 February 1881, Page 4

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 Buffering at the hands of the present rulers of Ireland. As I am at present undergoing that form of oppression called " Boycotting,'* I ask your leave to make the facts known to your readers. I was born and bred in England, and, having inheritedo prperiy in Ireland, I thought it right 10 try to do my duty by the people* I have mostly lived here since 1840. I have laid out £800 a year in permanent improvements—more than £25,000 in all. I farm largely and successfully, and pay now more than £25 a week in wages — £1,300 a yean Our best laborers are paid 11s 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 10a 6d, and a very few Bs. Several members ot a family are often employed. In one Buch case 39s per week were drawn in one house. Every sort of kindness that an English landowners family is in the habib of doing for its people and personal goodwill and regard have been freely given 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 from it. I have so improved the condition of my tenants that, with two or three exceptions, the rent has for the last thirty years been paid punctually in the first weeks in July and December. No one can show a better rent-bock. There is not Is of arrears in it for the rents due at Lady Day or May Ist. I farm nearly 1000 acres, Griffith's valuation on which is about 11s 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 rent day would be December 7th. For a fortnight before there were reports that my tenants would be allowed to pay only Griffith's valuation. . Thursday, December 2nd, the tenants received threatening notices by post to that effect. 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 ior me and my son. Threatening notices to the tenants were also stuck up all over the town. Saturday, the 4th, a speech appeared in two Liberal Cork newspapers, said to have been made on Friday by Father O'Leary, a young priest of the parish, of mere vulgar personal abuse of me, so gross that if any evil had happened to me he could not have escaped being held liable. Monday, the 6th, there waß a fair, at which my tenants were again vehemently threatened, especially those known to be friendly with me. On the 7fch the tenants were met comiDg to my house, and again threatened. A few who camo 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 ail these men exceeded £100 a year. Because I would not accept Griffith's valuation the Land League have now sent threatening letters to all tny laborers ordering them to leave me. As I have 400 sheep on turnips and sixty cattle fattening, it is thought that they can injure me thus. The effeofc is, of course, to cause me a great loss in selling these animals. All butchers have been forbidden to buy them. I sent three carts of oats last Wednesday to the market, a mob followed them howling, and frightened all from buying. My laborers and all others are frightened by this grievous tyranny. This morning (December 13th), hardly any one at work. I ask Englishmen to consider the cruel wrong thus inflicted ; that it is the plain work of the Land 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 into accepting less than is honeßtly due. My tenants have no real part in it, except one shopkeeper, who is a chief man in the League. The tenants are coerced. A week after the rule of Queen Victoria has been re-established in Ireland much of the rent will be paid. The whole mischief is from outside, through the Land League, who, while they have established a reign of terror, expect to escape by saying they disapprove of violence. While this is in full force some talk of making concessions to the Land League, whose whole object it is to force such money concessions from any of us, and if large concessions cannot he had then to get smaller ones, aB an instalment. Surely, there has never been such a slur on the brave and upright name of England since if; was a country. — W. Bence Jones. Lisselane, County Cork, December 13th.