" This
announcement was received by the House with an approving "hear, hear."
He went on to say, that lands of this nature were only to be improved
and reclaimed so far as general operations were concerned, such as the
making of roads through them, general drainage, and necessary buildings;
that the lands so reclaimed should be divided into lots, which should
not be below nor above a certain amount. Without binding himself to any
precise amount, he would say, by way of illustration, not less than
twenty-five, and not more than fifty acres; that when so reclaimed and
subdivided, the lands might be either sold or let to poor tenants for a
certain number of years, with the determination, that the portion thus
let should likewise be sold at the end of the term. "I own, sir," said
his lordship, "that I expect a very great advantage gradually to arise
from the adoption of this plan. I expect that great numbers of persons,
who have hitherto been driven to despair, and many of them to crime, by
the great demand for land in Ireland, will earn a competent livelihood
from the produce of these lands. I think, likewise, with regard to those
who will purchase the lands, so reclaimed and improved, _that there will
arise a class of small proprietors, who will form a very valuable class
in the social fabric of Ireland_.
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