rst act was to borrow L2000 of the Board of Works for
drainage purposes--the tenants agreeing to pay half the interest. As a
matter of fact some never paid at all, and I afterwards wiped out the
claims against them. There are about 300 tenants on the property, and
the average holdings are of about 36 acres, at an average rental of L30
a holding. There are, however, not a few large farms.

_Q_. Canon Keller says that "in the memory of living witnesses, and far
beyond it, the Ponsonby tenants have been notoriously rack-rented and
oppressed"; and that they have been committed to the "tender mercies of
agents, seeing little or nothing of their landlord, and experiencing no
practical sympathy from that quarter." How is this?

_A_. I wish to believe Canon Keller truthful when he knows the truth. He
certainly does not know the truth here. He is a newcomer at Youghal,
having come there in November 1885, and hardly so much of an authority
about "the memory of living witnesses and far beyond it" as the tenants
on the estate, who, when I went there first with my wife, presented to
me, May 25, 1868, an address of welcome, referring in very different
terms to the history of the estate and of my family connection with it.
Here is the original address, and a copy of it--the latter being quite
at your service.

This original address is very handsomely engrossed, and is signed by
fifty tenants. Among the names I observed those of Martin Loughlin,
Peter McDonough, Michael Gould, William Forrest, and John Heaphey, all
of whom are cited by Canon Keller in his tract as conspicuous victims of
the oppression and rack-renting which he says have prevailed upon the
Ponsonby estates time out of mind. It was rather surprising, therefore,
to find them joining with more than forty other tenants to sign an
address, of which I here print the text:--

To C.W. TALBOT PONSONBY, Esq.

Honoured Sir,--The Tenantry of your Estates near Youghal have heard
with extreme pleasure of the arrival of yourself and lady in the
neighbourhood, and have deputed us to address you on their behalf.

Through us they bid you and Mrs. Ponsonby welcome, and respectfully
congratulate you on your accession to the Estates.

The name of Ponsonby is traditionally revered in this part of the
country, being associated in the recollections and impressions of
the people with all that is exalted, honourable, and generous. It
has been matter