of whisky, porter, and tobacco. This sum, deducted from
L3,342,000, leaves the real Irish contribution, namely L1,842,000.

A further sum of uncertain, but substantial amount, would go to
the Irish exchequer from another source, to which we have now to
turn. With the proposals for self-government were coupled
proposals for a settlement of the land question. The ground-work
was an option offered to the landlords of being bought out under
the terms of the Act. The purchaser was to be an Irish state
authority, as the organ representing the legislative body. The
occupier was to become the proprietor, except in the congested
districts, where the state authority was to be the proprietor. The
normal price was to be twenty years' purchase of the net rental.
The most important provision, in one sense, was that which
recognised the salutary principle that the public credit should
not be resorted to on such a scale as this merely for the benefit
of a limited number of existing cultivators of the soil, without
any direct advantage to the government as representing the
community at large. That was effected by making the tenant pay an
annual instalment, calculated on the gross rental, while the state
authority would repay to the imperial treasury a percentage
calculated on the net rental, and the state authority would pocket
the difference, estimated to be about 18 per cent. on the sum
payable to the selling landlord. How was all this to be secured?
Principally, on the annuities paid by the tenants who had
purchased their holdings, and if the holdings did not satisfy the
charge, then on the revenues of Ireland. All public revenues
whatever were to be collected by persons appointed by the Irish
government, but these collectors were to pay over all sums that
came into their hands to an imperial officer, to be styled a
receiver-general. Through him all rents and Irish revenues
whatever were to pass, and not a shilling was to be let out for
Irish purposes until their obligations to the imperial exchequer
had been discharged.

On The Place Of Italy. (Page 415)

By the provisions of nature, Italy was marked out for a
conservative force in Europe. As England is cut off by the
channel, so is Italy by the mountains, from the continental
mass.... If England commits follies they are the