Page:Studies in Irish History, 1649-1775 (1903).djvu/327

After Limerick at least one-third of its total rental sent away to England; but there were worse evils than this. The Irish landlord who went to England let his land at a long lease to a large tenant, and this man raised his landlord's rent and a profit to himself by means of subletting. The tenants were thus under a man of inferior stamp, who had no direct interest in the soil, and whose uncompromising Protestantism was not softened and fined down by education and culture. As the demand for land increased and its profits rose, the head tenant often became an absentee himself and sublet his whole tenancy at an increased rent. This process continued until there were often two or three people between the landlord and the occupier of the soil.

Several times the Irish Parliament tried to check absenteeism by imposing a tax on the pensions, rents, or profits of employment of persons residing in England and drawing their money from Ireland. But these efforts were generally defeated or rendered nugatory by English influence. It was a great misfortune for Ireland during this period that the Irish Parliament was so dependent on England. The system of government by a weak Parliament and powerful ministers with the whole force of patronage at their disposal could have resulted in nothing but 315