the simplest justice; it established a system of mischievous litigation between landlord and tenant, demoralising and increasing the division of classes; it exhibited, on an enormous scale, characteristic contempt of Irish rights of property; and finally, if Parliamentary pledges are to be fulfilled, and gross wrong is not to be consecrated by law, it has given the Irish landlord a great and legitimate claim to compensation from the State. As we survey this unwise and destructive medley of law, we are forcibly reminded of the words of Burke:--'I am unalterably persuaded that the attempt to oppress, degrade, impoverish, confiscate, and extinguish the original gentlemen, and landed property of a whole nation, cannot be justified under any form it may assume.'[87] CHAPTER V THE QUESTION OF THE IRISH LAND (_continued_)--THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE IRISH LAND ACTS The administration of the Land Act of 1870 in the main good--Difficulty about claims for tenants' improvements--The administration of the Land Act of 1881, and of its supplements--The Land Commission and its Sub-Commissions--Allowances to be made for these tribunals--Principles which the Land Commission should have adopted in fixing 'fair rents'--The procedure and practice it ought to have established--It made mistakes as to both--The nature of the Sub-Commission Courts--This was objectionable in the highest degree--These Courts have, however unconsciously, done grave wrong to Irish landlords--Causes of this--Characteristics of their proceedings--They disregarded the principles they ought to have followed, and adopted faulty and erroneous methods--Different illustrations of these grave mistakes--The Land Commission and appeals as to 'fair rent'--Importance of this subject--Faulty procedure of the Land Commission in appeals--Valuers--The second Land Commission--Its procedure worse than that of the first--Theory of occupation right--This another wrong done to landlords--The Fry Commission and its report--Confiscation of the property of Irish landlords--The proofs of this--Apologies made for the Land Commission--The administration of the Land Purchase Acts.