Potatoes raised
from the "champion" seed introduced during the distress last year are,
if not plentiful, yet sufficient, perhaps, for the present, in the
localities to which a good supply of seed was sent; but I should not
like to speculate on the probable condition of affairs in March next.
I have also spoken of such a peasant as has been fortunate enough to
obtain work at nine shillings a week, esteemed a fair rate
hereabouts. But in truth there is very little work to be had; for the
curse of absenteeism sits heavily on the West. Four great landed
proprietors, who together have drawn for several years past about
70,000l. from their estates in Mayo, Galway, and Clare, have not, I am
assured, ever spent 10,000l. a year in this country. As with the land
itself, crop after crop has been gathered and no fertiliser has been
put in. The peasant is now aware of as many of such facts as apply to
his own locality, and this knowledge, coupled with hard work and
hunger, has aroused a discontent not to be easily appeased. To him his
forefathers appear to have led happy lives. It would be beyond my
purpose to discuss whether the good old times ever existed, either
here or anywhere else. My object just now is simply to reflect the
peasant's mind, after having endeavoured, so far as is possible in
this place, to verify the facts adduced by him, and I may add
generally admitted by others.

The peasant looks lovingly on the tradition of the old time when the
native proprietors dwelt among their people, without reflecting that
it was the almost insane recklessness and extravagance of the
hereditary lords of the soil which led to the breaking up of their
estates among purchasers who had no kind of sympathy with the
inhabitants. But good or bad, as they may have been, the names of the
Martins, the O'Flahertys, the Joyces, and the Lynches are still held
in honour, although their descendants may have disappeared altogether,
or remained on a tenth or twentieth part of the vast possessions once
held by their family. Some of the present representatives, however,
are unpopular from no fault of their own. To cite a typical case.
There is a large estate between this place and Clifden, the present
holders of which should hardly be held responsible for the faults of
their ancestors. A very large part of it has been sold outright and is
in good hands. The remainder is strictly settled on a minor, and is
mortgaged, in the language of the country, "