m Limerick city to the _Daily News_,
because there was no nearer or more convenient office from which to
send so long a message. Mr. Uniacke Townsend is one of a large family
mostly engaged in land agency, and has incurred the ire of the people
of Kilfinane, Kilmallock, Charleville, and the surrounding country, in
consequence of a difficulty with one Murphy, a fairly large farmer
according to the Irish measure of farming capacity. Murphy's farm is
known as Lisheen. It includes between 40 and 50 acres, and the rent,
240l. per annum, has, I am informed, not been changed for forty-six
years. When Murphy owed a clear year's rent and a balance on a "broken
gale," he was sued for the whole amount. By May of this year he owed
another gale of half a year's rent, and he was formally evicted and a
caretaker put in possession on the 21st June.

It has been explained in a previous letter that after receiving any
amount of credit an Irish farmer is again allowed six months'
"redemption" after eviction. After paying up everything, including the
additional "gale" incurred, less the proceeds of the farm, he
re-enters on possession at any time within the margin of six months.
Thus another "gale" fell due in November, and Murphy was still
unprovided with funds. He did, however, very well without them; for
the Land League, having become strong in the meanwhile in county
Limerick, the caretaker was frightened away from the farm and Murphy
reinstated. Mr. Uniacke Townsend requested him to give up possession,
and was refused, and it then became known that Murphy might expect
imprisonment or fine for trespass. Thereat a meeting was held, and Mr.
Townsend solemnly adjudged worthy of "Boycotting." The lead in these
disgraceful proceedings was taken by a Father Sheehy.

Whatever the merits of Murphy's case may be, and it seems that members
of his family have held Lisheen for some considerable time, there is
no doubt that Father Sheehy made an almost frantic speech against Mr.
Townsend, the agent, and Mr. Coote, the owner of the property,
declaring that "the very name of Coote smelt of blood." I am not aware
of the sanguinary deeds of the Cootes in the past; all I know of them
is that the present incumbent is a very old man, of somewhat clerical
exterior, who, like "A fine old Irish gentleman, one of the olden
time," lives in London, requests his agent to enforce the law against
his tenants without delay, and, in order to encourage him to do his