On the other hand, if the legislature were to adopt the only effectual means of restraining the clearances by the landlords--_i.e._, to grant the desired boon of fixity of tenure, at the existing rent, to all the tenants--or even absolutely require leases of a certain duration to be given to them all--it cannot be denied that they would commit the grave political offence of extensive interference not only with portions of private property, (which, all admit, may be justly taken, on reasonable compensation, for public objects,) but with the whole income of many individuals. This offence is of such a character, that we can hardly expect to see a measure involving it ever adopted by any legislature in this country; and it must be confessed that, however well adapted such a measure may be to the exigency of the present time in Ireland, the precedent thereby established would go far to justify many acts, as regards other possessions of property, which can hardly be called by any other name than spoliation. These are the considerations which lead us to believe that, in the present circumstances of Ireland--a population having grown up in the absence of any poor-law--with which a law, enacted tardily, and at a most disastrous period, cannot be expected to cope--the newly-acquired right to existence of the Irish poor must be aided and supported--as was always desired by Mr P. Scrope, and all the more enlightened advocates of that measure, and at one time proposed by the present Premier--by another measure, on the part of government, whereby _employment may be procured for them, the resources of the country improved_, and the proprietors taught, by example much more effectually than they can ever be by precept, how these duties, now legally imposed on them for the benefit of the poor, may be made to consist with improvement of their own position.