like, as Cuddy, Coshery, Bonnaght, Shrah, Sorehin, and such others; the which I think were customs at first brought in by the English upon the Irish, for they were never wont and yet are loath to yield any certain rent but only such spendings; for their common saying is "Spend me and defend me."-Spenser's View of the State of Ireland, written in the year 1596,' p. 52.

APPENDIX XVII.

IRISH PARLIAMENTS. POYNINGS' LAW.

THERE was no attempt to hold a national parliament until the 11th year of James I., A.D. 1613. All previous parliaments were merely composed of the nominees of government, or the representatives of the English party in Ireland. Even these parliaments had no freedom of action; for by Poynings' law, so called after the Lord Deputy, Sir Edward Poynings, by whom it was introduced, the 10th of Henry VII., chapter 4, it was enacted (A.D. 1495) that no parliament should ever thenceforward be held in Ireland until the Acts to be proposed therein were first certified to England, and approved of by the king and his council there, and then returned with the king's licence to hold such parliament under the seal of England, and, if altered and amended by the said council, that they should either be passed in said altered form or not at all.1

Poynings' law was well intended, and at first was most useful; its object being to check the abuses of the English party in Ireland, who had the parliament entirely in their hands. When the parliaments became national such a law was highly objectionable. It was repealed in substance, save as to the necessity of the king's license, by the 21st and 22nd Geo. III., c. 47, A.D. 1781-82.-'Irish Statutes,' vol. xii., p. 356. At the same time another Act was introduced by Poynings and passed by the Irish parliament, by which all the statutes hitherto passed in England were made law in Ireland. 10th Henry VII. c. 22.—' Irish Statutes,' vol. i., p. 56.

1 See Explanatory Act, 3rd and 4th Philip and Mary, chapter 4.

APPENDIX XVIII.

THE TWELVE LONDON COMPANIES IN THE COUNTY OF LONDONDERRY.

THE IRISH SOCIETY.

KING JAMES I. having brought his project of the Plantation of Ulster with Scotch and English settlers before the Corporation of London, and that body having decided to take part therein, a grant of nearly the whole county of Londonderry was made, in 1613, to the Irish Society, paying a sum of 40,000l. to the Crown, and subject to certain condion behalf of the twelve London Companies, in consideration of their tions, commonly known as the Articles of Plantation, to which I have fully referred in the text.1

Each of the twelve companies contributed 3,3331. 6s. 8d. towards the above fine; and about the year 1617 the Irish Society executed separate grants to them of their several proportions, now their estates.

A Royal Commission having found that the companies had failed to carry out the conditions of the Articles of Plantation, the charter of the Irish Society was cancelled in 1634. It was, however, renewed by letters patent, dated April 10, 1662, the 14th of Charles II., and the companies hold their estates under this charter at the present day. The following are the particulars of the several estates:—

The Drapers' estate is situated at the south-west corner of the county. It consists of sixty-two townlands, containing about 41,201 statute acres. The Government valuation in 1858 was 20,5311. The rental is about 13,000l. per annum.

The chief town is Moneymore, where the agent resides. Its population is 779. The only other town is Draperstown, with a population of

467.

Leases of twenty-one years are given on this estate to farmers. Long leases for building in towns or for manufacturing purposes are refused. Hence, we are told,' the towns have dwindled away, and there are no manufactures or manufacturing industry on the estate.'

Every tenant on this estate has a right, by the custom, to sell his interest in his farm at the highest price he can procure, without any restriction by the company.

The majority of the tenants on the estate are Presbyterians.

1 Chapter lix.

The Ironmongers' estate is situate in the east and central part of the county, in the half-barony of Coleraine. It consists of forty-seven townlands, containing 13,232 statute acres. The Government valuation in 1858 was 8,1321, and the rental is about 7,400l. per annum. There is no market town on the estate.

It is managed by a committee of twelve, six of whom are elected by the company, to serve for three years in rotation. The other six, who generally hold office for life, are chosen from the following minor companies, who have an interest in the estate, viz. :-The Brewers', the Scriveners', the Coopers', the Pewterers', the Barbers', and the Carpenters'.

There are few leases on the estate. Nearly all the farms are let from year to year, under special agreements, giving the company power to put an end to the tenancy on three months' notice to quit.

The tenant-right custom has been limited to ten years of the tenant's

rent.

'There are no manufactures,' we are told, 'owing to the fact that the company refuse to give perpetuity leases.'

The majority of the tenants are Presbyterians.

The mountainous

part of the estate is occupied principally by Roman Catholics.

The Mercers' estate is situate around Kilrea, on the east centre of the county. It consists of forty townlands, containing about 21,152 statute acres. The Government valuation in 1858 was 11,6817. The rental is 10,2001. per annum.

Kilrea is the principal town, and has a population of 924. The only other town is Swatragh, a village with 219 inhabitants.

There are no leases on the estate. Every tenant is required to sign a special agreement, whereby a three months' notice to quit can determine the tenancy.

We are told that, on this estate, 'the tenant-right custom has been most arbitrarily abolished.'

There are no manufactures on the estate.

The Presbyterians and Roman Catholics are nearly equal in numbers. The Clothworkers' estate is situate near Coleraine. Part of it consists of the streets on the west side of Coleraine, but there is no town on the estate except the suburbs of Coleraine, known as Waterside.

It consists of thirty-three townlands, containing about 14,056 statute acres. In 1858 the Government valuation was 8,5631. The rental is 6,0002.

There are some leases; the custom of tenant-right is respected on the estate; there are no manufactures.

The Salters' estate is situate on the south-east corner of the county (along Lough Neagh). Magherafelt is the chief town, containing a population of 1,293.

It consists of fifty townlands, containing about 22,066 statute acres. The Government valuation in 1858 was 17,7771. The rental is now 17,000l.

There are very few leases on the estate, except the town of Magherafelt.

Up to 1865 the custom of tenant-right was respected; but it has been virtually destroyed by the increase of rents since then. No manufactures.

This estate was leased to Thomas Bateson, the grandfather of the present Sir Thomas Bateson, for forty-three years, from May 13, 1754, at 3921. per annum; and, for fifty-five years from the expiration of that lease, at 500l. per annum.' The latter lease expired May 13, 1853, and the property reverted to the Salters' Company, who now manage it themselves.

The majority of the tenants are Presbyterians. Next in number are the Roman Catholics.

The Fishmongers' estate lies along the south of Lough Foyle, between Newtownlimavady and Muff. The only town is Ballykelly, with 100 inhabitants. The estate consists of forty-nine townlands, containing about 21,661 statute acres. The Government valuation in 1858 was 10,4577. The rental is 10,0001.

The tenant-right custom has suffered most on this estate. All incoming tenants or assignees of old tenants are obliged to sign a deed of covenant, releasing all claim to tenant-right. Anyone refusing to sign will not be accepted.

The Grocers' estate lies on the north-west corner of the county between Derry and Muff. It consists of forty-two townlands, containing 12,168 statute acres. The Government valuation in 1858 was 7,0077. The rental is 6,000l. per annum.

'On this estate,' we are told, 'the tenant-right custom has been left untouched, and the consequence is, it is the most contented and prosperous of all the London Companies' estates.'

In passing through this estate last August, I was particularly struck with its appearance of prosperity, and I heard its management spoken of in terms of high praise.

This second lease was dated August 14, 1754, to commence from May 12, 1798. It is not stated that there was any fine paid for either lease.

The Skinners' estate adjoins Magherafelt, Newtownlimavady, and Londonderry. It consists of sixty-four townlands, containing 44,444 statute acres. The mountainous parts of the county are principally on

this estate.

The Skinners' Company, in 1803, leased this estate to Robert Ogilby, for the life of Robert Leslie Ogilby, in consideration of 25,0001. Mr. R. L. Ogilby is still alive, but is a very old man. At his death the estate will revert to the Skinners' Company. In 1858 the Government valuation was 13,1827. Mr. Ogilby's rental is under 12,000l.

Dungiven is the only town-population, 845.

The old tenant-right custom is recognised on the estate. no manufactures. The population is mainly Roman Catholic.

There are

The Vintners' estate, now called the 'Bellaghy estate,' lies between Castledawson, Maghera, and Kilrea, in the south-east part of the county.

It consists of fifty-six townlands, containing 31,713 statute acres. In 1858, the general valuation was 17,4777. The rental is about 4,500l.

Bellaghy, formerly called Vintners' Town, is the principal town.

The Vintners' Company sold this estate in 1737 to the Right Hon. William Connolly, Speaker of the Irish House of Commons, for 15,0007. He leased the greater part of it in perpetuity, taking fines and reducing the rents. His son, Thomas Connolly, continued to make leases in perpetuity of such portions as his father had not demised.

The Merchant Tailors' estate is situate near Coleraine, in the Halfbarony of Coleraine. It consists of forty-five townlands, containing about 18,729 statute acres. In 1858 the Government valuation was 7,7431. The rental is about 7,000l.

This estate was leased in perpetuity to the Richardson family. The present owner is Mr. Richardson, who resides at Somerset, Coleraine. There are no leases, all his tenants holding from year to year.

The tenant-right custom is to some extent recognised on the estate. The Haberdashers' estate is situate on the east of the road from Dungiven to Newtownlimavady. It consists of eighty-six townlands, containing about 29,845 statute acres. In 1858 the Government valuation was 12,0157.

This company sold their estate to the Earl of Tyrone about the year 1685. It has since continued in the family. The Marquis of Waterford is the owner.

There are no leases. The tenants hold from year to year.

Besides the Haberdashers' estate, the Marquis of Waterford is owner