§ MR. CHANNING (Northampton, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to a letter in the Freeman's Journal, of 13th March, in which Mr. H. H. Townsend, agent for the syndicate which has bought the Ponsonby estate, declared it is the intention of the syndicate to evict all the tenants who do not purchase their holdings or otherwise settle on terms proposed by the Syndicate; and whether he will draw the attention of the Land Purchase Commissioners to the pressure thus brought to bear upon the tenants, and suggest to the Commissioners any steps which may protect the tenants from practical compulsion?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have seen the letter to which the hon. Gentleman alludes. It in no way conveys the meaning which he appears to attribute to it. I have no doubt the Land Commission will take note of any circumstances which may render a sale under the Ashbourne Act inexpedient or illegal.