The Royal Commission on Agriculture, presided over by the Duke
of Richmond, has sent in its report upon Ireland. A minority, which includes Lord. Carlingford and Mr. Stansfeld, is in favour of granting the "three F's ;" and even the majority, which includes men like the Duke of Bnccleugh, Mr. II. Chaplin, and Mr. limiter Rodwell, men of distinctively Tory opinions, condemn that proposal in the following mild manner :- " Bearing in mind the system, by which the improvements and equipments of a farm are very generally the work of the tenant, and the fact that a yearly tenant is at any time liable to have his rent raised iu consequence of the increase in value that has been given to his holding by the expenditure of his own capital and labour, the desire for legislative interference to protect him from an arbitrary increase of rent does not seem unnatural, and we are inclined to think that by the majority of landowners legislation properly framed to accomplish this end would not be objected to. With a view of affording such security, fair rents,' fixity of tenure,' and free sale,' popularly known as 'the three F's,' have been strongly advocated by many witnesses, but none have been able to support these propositions in their integrity, without admitting consequences that would, in our opinion, involve an injustice to the landlord."
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