DOCSLIB.ORG

Letters on Home Rule

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Letters on Home Rule LETTERS ON HOME RULE BY JOHN BRIGHT, THE PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE. BIRMINGHAM : THE DAILY GAZETTE COMPANY, LIMITED. 1892. INTRODUCTION. Death has robbed us of the man who above all others commanded the confidence of this country during the great political crisis of 1886. When Mr. Gladstone changed his whole attitude towards Irish Nationalism in order to obtain the support of Mr. Parnell and his followers, John Bright was one of the first to protest against the surrender of principle by the Liberal party. He had ever proved himself a generous friend to//the Irish people, had always held Mr. Gladstone in high esteem, and was one of his closest political associates. The whole country looked, therefore, with special anxiety for an indication of his views on the Home Rule Bill, and on the wild scheme of compulsory land purchase with which it was associated. He did not leave a doubt as to his opinion on either of the proposals, and his attitude exercised a profound influence upon the electorate when Mr. Gladstone, defeated in the House of Commons, appealed to the country for a mandate, which was absolutely refused. Had Mr. Bright been a younger man, his voice would have been raised against ‘‘the wild policy” which, to its lasting disgrace, had associated the Liberal party with “ the conspiracy half Irish and half American ” which was then and is now “ at open war with the Government of the Queen.” Compelled by physical weakness to lefrain from platform work, he proved his unimpaired mental vigour by issuing in rapid succession the letters collected in this pamphlet. They deal with every phase of the Irish controversy as it has never been dealt with by any other man. They form, as the editor of a collection published by theBirmingham Gazette Company in 1888 truly said, “ a statement of the case for the Union which for succinctness, precision, and patriotic force has no counterpart in Unionist literature.” They are a noble vindication of the course taken by Unionist Liberals, and a crushing censure of those who were willing to give up the unity of the three kingdoms in order to preserve the unity of a political party. “ I have not changed ” was Mr. Bright’s dignified answer to a critic in June, 1887 ; “ I have not changed” was the refrain of Mr. Chamberlain’s speech when asked to take the leadership of the Liberal Unionist party in the House of Commons in February, 1892. These letters reveal how “ others have changed,” and why consistency is offensive to them. They will suffice to show the thoughtful and fair-minded electors of this country how hollow and unwarranted are the gibes and sneers indulged in by Gladstonians at the expense of those Liberals who remain true to the Unionist principles which were held by the whole party, and, most strongly of all, by Mr. Gladstone himself, in 1885. If they do this, and if they also persuade some doubting electors who reverently cherish the memory of John Bright to take the fearless, patriotic course he pursued on the Home Rule question, their re-publication will not be in vain. “ The People s Tribune ” has passed away, but the counsel he freely gave to his countrymen remains for their guidance and encouragement in the great struggle which is impending. One word of thanks the Editor must express to all who have assisted him In making this collection of Mr. Bright’s letters on Home Rule as complete as possible. To give names would be invidious, and it is unnecessary, since all will be amply satisfied by the reflection that they have aided in preserving a series of letters which are not less an ornament to English literature than an invocation to loyalty and patriotism. Writing under date of February 23, 1888, from One Ash, Rochdale, Mr. Bright said :—“ I have had several suggestions that my letters should be published, and I am quite willing you should deal with them as you propose.I hope they may be sent into the house o f each, and voter that they may be useful.” It is our most earnest wish that Mr. Bright’s hope may be realised j and if some critics are disposed to urge that the pamphlet is unworthy of the treasures it contains, we pray them to remember that our great aim has been to place it within the reach of all who within the next Iwelve months may be called upon to give a vote on the question of Home Rule. Birmingham. Feb., 1892. JOHN BRIGHT’S LETTERS ON HOME RULE. I.—A ONE-MAN POLICY. war with you, and am sorrv to see it. They make no Mr. Bright addressed the following letter to a allowance for what they deem an error, even when member of the Council of the Central Division viewed in connection with many years of honest service. of Birmingham, who wrote the hon. gentleman In the future that which to them is an error may turn out to have been patriotism and wisdom. It is grievous on May 19th, 1886, urging him to do all in histo see with what bitterness Liberals can treat Liberals power to prevent the passing of the Irish Bills in whose fault is that they have consistently supported the the form which they then took principles which all Liberals accepted less than a year Reform Club, May 31st, 1836. af° ‘ Bonesty and capacity in a member are with some Dear Sir— . I think the Home Rule Bill of small value in comparison with the suppleness which should have been withdrawn before the second reading, permits or enables him to “ turn his back upon him self” and but for the fear of a dissolution, which decides th when a great political leader changes his mind and his votes of some scores of members, this would have been course. I am surprised that any real Liberal should be done. I hope the course I shall take will meet with the induced to oppose you. He cannot excel you in a faithful support of those I am permitted to represent. discharge of Parliamentary duty, and I think he should My sympathy with Ireland, north and south, compels rather admire than blame your steadfast adherence to me to condemn the proposed legislation. I believe the the policy on which you believed you were elected in united Parliament can be and will be more just to all November last. .—Believe me, sincerely yours, classes in Ireland than any Parliament that can meet in J o h n B r ig h t . Dublin under the provisions of Mr. Gladstone’s bill. If Mr. Gladstone’s great authority were withdrawn from IV.—MR. BRIGHT AND MR. GLADSTONE. these bills, I doubt if twenty members outside the Irish party in the House of Commons would support them. Mr. Bright forwarded to the Times tha -The more I consider them the more I lament that they following letter, which he addressed to Mr. have been offered to the Parliament of the country — Gladstone :— Yours very truly, J o h n B r ig h t *. __ , , Bath, July 4, 1806. My dear Gladstone—I am sorry my spéeoh has so greatly irritated you. It has been as great a grief to me II.—ABJECT PARTISANSHIP. to speak as I have spoken as it can have been to you to Mr. W. S. Caine, M.P. for Barrow, received listen or to read. the following letter from Mr. Bright at the time You say it is a gross charge to say that you concealed your thoughts last November. Surely, when you urged that he was soliciting the suffrages of the electors the constituencies to send you a Liberal majoritv large of that place :— enough to make you independent of Mr. Parnell and his T» , r _ . One Ash, Roohdale, June 22nd, 1886. party, the Liberal party and the country understood you Dear Mr Caine—I see you are engaged in a fight at to ask for a majority to enable you to resist Mr. Parnell, Barrow. I much hope you will win. It is not pleasant not to make a complete surrender to him. to see bow unforgiving some of our heretofore Liberal { You object to my quotations about a conspiracy friends are if their representatives refuse to surrender “ marching through rapine to the break-up of the United Judgment and conscience to the demands or the sudden Kingdom,” and you s'ay there is now no such conspiracy changes of their political leader. The action of our against the payment of rent and the union of the ítÍL ? f 8°ci*tions « raPÜly engaged in making countries. I believe there is now such a conspiracy, and delegates of their members and in insisting on their that it is expecting and seeking its further success forgetting all principles if the interests of a party or the through your measure. leader of a party are supposed to be at stake. What You complain that I charge you with want of frank­ will be the vaiue of a party when its whole power is ness in regard to the Land Purchase Bill. You must laid at the disposal of a leader from whose authority no know that a large number of your supporters are utterly appeal is allowed ? At this moment it is notorious that opposed to the bill. If you tie the two bills together their difficulty in dealing with them will be much JXïïhÎn erB *■ t H?Use of 0°mmons have voted t h JTri.hG™ mmTtn* w]*0 in private have condemned increased, and their liberty greatly fettered.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A History of Modern Ireland 1800-1969
    ireiana Edward Norman I Edward Norman A History of Modem Ireland 1800-1969 Advisory Editor J. H. Plumb PENGUIN BOOKS 1971 Contents Preface to the Pelican Edition 7 1. Irish Questions and English Answers 9 2. The Union 29 3. O'Connell and Radicalism 53 4. Radicalism and Reform 76 5. The Genesis of Modern Irish Nationalism 108 6. Experiment and Rebellion 138 7. The Failure of the Tiberal Alliance 170 8. Parnellism 196 9. Consolidation and Dissent 221 10. The Revolution 254 11. The Divided Nation 289 Note on Further Reading 315 Index 323 Pelican Books A History of Modern Ireland 1800-1969 Edward Norman is lecturer in modern British constitutional and ecclesiastical history at the University of Cambridge, Dean of Peterhouse, Cambridge, a Church of England clergyman and an assistant chaplain to a hospital. His publications include a book on religion in America and Canada, The Conscience of the State in North America, The Early Development of Irish Society, Anti-Catholicism in 'Victorian England and The Catholic Church and Ireland. Edward Norman also contributes articles on religious topics to the Spectator. Preface to the Pelican Edition This book is intended as an introduction to the political history of Ireland in modern times. It was commissioned - and most of it was actually written - before the present disturbances fell upon the country. It was unfortunate that its publication in 1971 coincided with a moment of extreme controversy, be¬ cause it was intended to provide a cool look at the unhappy divisions of Ireland. Instead of assuming the structure of interpretation imposed by writers soaked in Irish national feeling, or dependent upon them, the book tried to consider Ireland’s political development as a part of the general evolu¬ tion of British politics in the last two hundred years.
    [Show full text]
  • Evaluation of the Mid Term Review of the Irish Forestry Programme 2014-2020
    Evaluation of the Mid Term Review of the Irish Forestry Programme 2014-2020. Report 1 - Forestry in Ireland. Gerry Lawson MICFor CBiol Forest Transitions, Calle Morera 5, Castillo de Bayuela, Toledo 45641, Spain. ​ Environmental Consultancy Services Consultancy Report for Luke Ming Flanagan MEP | 20 September 2018 1. Introduction 2 2. MTR - Call for Submissions March 2017 3 3. MTR - Comparison with EU Common Evaluation Principles. 7 4. MTE - EU State Aid to Forestry Rules 7 4.1 EU Guidelines for state aid in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas 2014-2020 7 4.2 European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), as described in Regulations 1305/2013 and 1306/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council 9 5. MTR - submissions and responses (TOR 4 & 6). 10 5.1 Afforestation and Creation of Woodland (76.2% of total budget) 14 5.1.1 How to increase the species diversity and the proportion of broadleaves? 14 5.1.2 How to achieve the targets for new planting? 16 5.1.3 How to increase the average size of new planting blocks? 19 5.1.4 How to make the Forestry for Fibre scheme more attractive? 19 5.1.5 How to make the agroforestry scheme more attractive?y systems 20 5.2 NeighbourWood Scheme (0.4% of total budget) 22 5.3 Forest Roads (10.5% of total budget) 24 5.4 Reconstitution Scheme (1.8% of total budget) 26 5.5 Woodland Improvement Scheme (2.6% of total budget) 27 5.6 Native Woodland Conservation Scheme (2.8% of total budget) 29 5.7 Knowledge Transfer Measure (3.3% of total budget) 32 5.8 Producer Groups (0.1% of total budget) 33 5.9 Innovative Forest Technology (0.3% of total budget) 34 5.10 Forest Genetic Reproductive Material (0.2% of total budget) 35 5.11 Forest Management Plans (0.7% of total budget) 37 5.12 General Issues 38 5.12.1 How to enhance environment, biodiversity, climate? 38 5.12.2 How to change land use policies? 41 5.12.3 How to enhance the species mix in planting schemes? 43 5.12.4 How to increase collaboration between forest owners? 45 6.
    [Show full text]
  • The Great Fraud of Ulster
    ^i.: J <. •->.w.: >,%<.> ^ S. * f»*. ^- -:; 'I -f4.... 4 t/^ :S: >.t <» Iv.vO "*^^^- srr. T^:^ ,1 , c-<^ 6 1j^-r4 "^*^^t r %. , e-- THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY H Z^g- Crf». 2 REMOTE STOiMGE Return this book on or before the Latest Date stamped below. University of Illinois Library H0^i8\9» 19(ft SEP 1 4 I )97 L161 — H41 —— ——— — Ul s REMOTE STORAGE H34f % "STOLEN WATERS." ^^^ '^X J ^ j 80ME PRESS NOTICES. »\ "We can welcome Mr. Ilealy's treatment of a difficult and obscure J!N episode in the hiatory of Ulster as on the whole impartial, and based on Qr; a judicial reading of a vast accumulation of documentary evidence. m; In his capacity as historical detective he is fair-minded to a degree, T.'hich w'Mild amaze us if we were not so well acquainted with the well- tempered quality of an intellect that for subtlety and power and a dis- passionate coolness is not surpassed by that of any Irishman living. The wonderful net of intrigue by which all this was contrived has been carefully unravelled by Mr. llealy with a pertinaceous ingenuity worthy of Sherlock -Holmes." Morning I'ost. " Mr. Ilealy has accomi)lished a difficult task with considerable success. The result of his labours is an absorbing book. The author has succeeded in weaving a ivjmantic story out of the dry material of official records and legal documents." Athcnceum. " The story that Mr. Healy tells has something of the flavour of historical romance. Mr. Ilealy's method of argument on the main issue is calm and temperate.
    [Show full text]
  • Documents from the Thomond Papers at Petworth House Archive1 [With Index]
    Luke McInerney Documents from the Thomond Papers at Petworth House Archive1 [with index] The Petworth House Archive (PHA) is an important and under-exploited repository for research into seventeenth and eighteenth-century Co. Clare. Petworth House, the historic seat of the earls of Egremont, holds primary source material relating to the estates of the earls of Thomond in North Munster, chiefly for Co. Clare but also Co. Limerick and Co. Tipperary. The material preserved at Petworth contains a range of material includ- ing estate management documentation, correspondence, accounts, legal papers, military, parliamentary papers, family history, maps and surveys.2 Only a small proportion of the tens of thousands of documents in the archive relate to the earls of Thomond’s Irish estates and the surviving ‘Thomond papers’ probably represent only a fraction of the original col- lection, loss and damage having taken its toll. Not all of the Thomond material is listed in the current Petworth catalogue; a large portion of the material is still available only in an unpublished early nineteenth-century manuscript catalogue. For historians of Gaelic Ireland the Thomond papers are notewor- thy as they contain detail on landholding at different social levels; key legal instruments such as inquisitions post mortem of Connor O’Brien (1581) third earl of Thomond, and Donough O’Brien (1624) fourth earl of Thomond, are preserved in the archive, along with petitions and leases of Gaelic freeholders. Freeholders of sept-lineages petitioned for restoration of their lands as they were increasingly disenfranchised in the new land- holding matrix of seventeenth century Co.
    [Show full text]
  • Eighteenth Century Ulster Tokens
    EIGHTEENTH CENTURY ULSTER TOKENS ROBERT HESLIP IN the past there was a tendency to homogenise the numismatic history of the British Isles, disregarding the regional differences which can now be seen to distinguish each economic area from the other. Increasingly historians find such differentiation a source of active stimulation. Few subjects illustrate the benefits of a regional approach more clearly than token coinage. In the seventeenth century many of the tokens issued in Ireland were like their English contemporaries, made by the same manufacturers, using the same devices, but closer examination reveals differences as well as similarities. The usual denomination outside Dublin is a penny. Few issuers give a specific trade, preferring the simple, and not very helpful title, of 'marchant'. Even in urban areas, again excluding Dublin, most of these men can have had only a peripheral interest in shop or inn keeping, and the issue of tokens can be seen as being at one with ceaseless activity in an undeveloped economy, searching to raise and use limited capital. In the north of Ireland the tokens seem to have mixed with Scots and French pieces, and hence existed in a currency of petty coinage perhaps rather different from that of England, Scotland or other parts of Ireland. The reason for such diversity must be sought in peculiar economic and social circumstances, and its existence perhaps direct us to a re-examination of the reasons why tokens were produced at all, and to emphasise that their function cannot have been uniform across the British Isles and its disparate economies. The seventeenth century, however, is not the subject of this paper.
    [Show full text]
  • I IRISH MEDIUM EDUCATION
    IRISH MEDIUM EDUCATION: COGNITIVE SKILLS, LINGUISTIC SKILLS, AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS IRISH. IVAN ANTHONY KENNEDY PhD COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND LIFELONG LEARNING, BANGOR UNIVERSITY 2012 i In memory of Tony. No one speaks English, and everything's broken, and my Stacys are soaking wet. ~Tom Waits, Tom Traubert's Blues ii There’s a ghost of another language shadow-dancing under my words. A phantom tongue that unravels like liquor, inspires like song. ~Sharanya Manivannann, First Language Education is simply the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another. ~G.K. Chesterton iii Acknowledgements First, and foremost, I thank my supervisor, Dr. Enlli Thomas, for all the guidance over the years. Thank you Enlli for all your constructive and friendly support and for helping me to find and embark upon the right paths throughout this project. Your immense diligence, encouragement, and support went beyond measure and I will be forever grateful for the opportunities that you gave me. From start to finish, working with you on this project was an absolute pleasure. I also thank An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta & Gaelscolaíochta for their financial support in funding this project which made its undertaking possible. Thank you Pól Ó Cainin and Muireann Ní Mhóráin for your help. I thank Siân Wyn Lloyd-Williams for all the moral and academic support throughout the project. Your input is truly valued, helped to keep me grounded, and made the project more fun and less stressful than it might otherwise have been. Additionally, I thank Dave Lane for his expertise in creating the Flanker tasks and the Sustained Attention to Response Task computer programs, Gwyn Lewis and Jean Ware for academic assistance and feedback, Beth Lye and Mirain Rhys for scoring children’s written tests, and Raymond Byrne and Ross Byrne for helping to create and pilot the Irish vocabulary tests.
    [Show full text]
  • How Did the Great Irish Famine Change Ireland and the World? PART ONE Student Activities: St
    How Did The Great Irish Famine Change Ireland and The World? PART ONE Student Activities: St. Brendan the Navigator: The First Irish Visitor . 567 The Erie Canal: Then and Now . 575 The Importance of the Erie Canal. 583 Irish Immigrant Life in Albany in 1852 . 589 Chain Immigration: A Buffalo, New York/Irish Example . 600 The Campbells Leave County Antrim . 609 The O’Connor Family Comes to New York . 617 Ballads: Writing the Emigrant’s Experience. 624 Kilkelly: A Ballad As Social History . 631 Who was on the Jeanie Johnston? . 635 The Route of the Jeanie Johnston. 641 The Irish in New York City in 1855 . 644 Irish Stereotypes in Paddy Songs . 648 Lyddie: The Irish in New England Mill Towns . 659 St. Brendan the Navigator: The First Irish Visitor BACKGROUND t. Brendan is considered to be the first Irish visitor to North America. He was born in Ireland around 489. Some say he was born near Tralee; others say he was born near Killarney. St. Brendan became a Smonk. In the 6th century, many Irish monks were traveling to Europe to establish monasteries as centers of study. They traveled also to lonely islands where they could live close to nature. Legend tells us that St. Brendan and 17 companions left Ireland in an open, leather-covered boat for a voyage of seven years in the North Atlantic, looking for a promised land. It brought them to strange, new lands where they had marvelous adventures. RESOURCES HANDOUTS St. Brendan’s Voyage St. Brendan and His Companions Tim Severin Recreating the Voyage of St.
    [Show full text]
  • Researching Irish and Scots-Irish Ancestors an INTRODUCTION to the SOURCES and the ARCHIVES
    Researching Irish and Scots-Irish Ancestors AN INTRODUCTION TO THE SOURCES AND THE ARCHIVES Ulster Historical Foundation Charity Registration No. NIC100280 Interest in researching Irish ancestors has never been greater. Given Ireland’s history of emigration, it is hardly surprising to find that around the world tens of millions of people have a family connection with the island. Much of this interest comes from Britain, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. What follows is a very basic introduction to researching Irish ancestors. It highlights what the major sources are and where they can be found. Prior to 1922 Ireland was under one jurisdiction and so where we refer to Ireland we mean the entire island. Where we are referring specifically to Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland we will try to make this clear. SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION Exploding a myth an elderly person’s reminiscences prove to be an accurate A popular misconception about researching Irish ancestors is recollection of the facts. A family Bible is another possible that it is a fruitless exercise because so many records were source of information on your ancestors. Gathering this destroyed. There is no denying that the loss of so many information before you visit the archives can save a great deal records in the destruction of the Public Record Office, of time. Once you find out what you do know you will then Dublin, in 1922 was a catastrophe as far as historical and be aware of the gaps and will have a clearer idea of what you genealogical research is concerned.
    [Show full text]
  • Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind and the Irish Big House Genre
    Georgia Southern University Digital Commons@Georgia Southern Electronic Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies, Jack N. Averitt College of Spring 2010 Kinship: Margaret Mitchell's Gone With The Wind and the Irish Big House Genre Patricia Homer Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd Recommended Citation Homer, Patricia, "Kinship: Margaret Mitchell's Gone With The Wind and the Irish Big House Genre" (2010). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 179. https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/179 This thesis (open access) is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies, Jack N. Averitt College of at Digital Commons@Georgia Southern. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons@Georgia Southern. For more information, please contact [email protected]. KINSHIP: MARGARET MITCHELL’S GONE WITH THE WIND AND THE IRISH BIG HOUSE GENRE by PATRICIA HOMER (Under the Direction of Howard Keeley) ABSTRACT Critics have largely dismissed Margaret Mitchell’s best-selling novel Gone with the Wind as a serious work of literature. Although various references to Irish culture permeate Gone with the Wind, the novel has not been compared to any Irish literature or mythology. This thesis compares Gone with the Wind with Irish Big House literature and mythology through the lens of biography and history. The works of William Butler Yeats, Maria Edgeworth, and Edith Somerville and Martin Ross are also employed to show evidence of the connection of Gone with the Wind to Irish Big House literature. This comparison results in a new approach to Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind that affords a new reading of the novel.
    [Show full text]
  • Report on Addressing Challenges Faced by Returning Irish Emigrants
    Indecon Economic Report on Addressing Challenges Faced by Returning Irish Emigrants Submitted to Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Prepared by Indecon International Economic Consultants www.indecon.ie 27 February 2018 Contents Page Executive Summary i 1 Introduction and Background 1 2 Profile of Migration in Ireland 4 3 Analysis of Irish Emigrants in Key Markets 19 4 Factors Influencing Emigration and Returning Emigrants 24 5 Housing Related Barriers 28 6 Motor Related Barriers 39 7 Employment Related Barriers 52 8 Financial & Banking Related Barriers 63 9 Health and Childcare Related Barriers 72 10 Immigration and Welfare Related Barriers 80 11 Education Related Barriers 90 12 Entrepreneurial Related Barriers 97 13 Recommendations 101 Annex 1 Non-Visa Required Countries 116 Annex 2 Additional Analysis of Migrants 117 Annex 3 Case Study of Irish Nationals in Australia 119 Indecon Economic Report on Addressing Challenges Faced by Returning Irish Emigrants i │ Executive Summary Executive Summary Introduction and Background This report represents an independent and evidence-based examination of the challenges faced by Irish emigrants. Following a competitive tender, Indecon Research Economists were appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade to investigate the challenges facing Irish emigrants returning to live in Ireland and to consider potential measures to reduce the barriers for returning emigrants. The background to the study is that the Irish Government’s Diaspora Policy contains specific commitments to examine issues affecting Irish people abroad and those seeking to return home. To support this work the Government established an Interdepartmental Committee on the Diaspora Policy and this current report builds on the valuable work completed by the Interdepartmental Committee.
    [Show full text]
  • Surveying Units and Terms Page 1 of 12
    Surveying Units and Terms Page 1 of 12 Surveying Units and Terms 22 Apr 2013 Here is our list of units of measure , surveying terms , surveyors' slang and abbreviations , water descriptions , and trees . If you don't see your favorite obscure units or terms, please let us know . We're happy to add to our list. Home Land Record Reference Units of Measure • Acre - The (English) acre is a unit of area equal to 43,560 square feet, or 10 square chains, or 160 square poles. It derives from a plowing area that is 4 poles wide and a furlong (40 poles) long. A square mile is 640 acres. The Scottish acre is 1.27 English acres. The Irish acre is 1.6 English acres. • Arpent - Unit of length and area used in France, Louisiana, and Canada. As a unit of length, approximately 191.8 feet (180 old French 'pied', or foot). The (square) arpent is a unit of area, approximately .845 acres, or 36,802 square feet. • Chain - Unit of length usually understood to be Gunter's chain , but possibly variant by locale. See also Rathbone's chain . The name comes from the heavy metal chain of 100 links that was used by surveyors to measure property bounds. • Colpa - Old Irish measure of land equal to that which can support a horse or cow for a year. Approximately an Irish acre of good land. • Compass - One toise . • Cuerda - Traditional unit of area in Puerto Rico. Equal to about .971 acres. Known as the "Spanish acre". • Engineer's Chain - A 100 foot chain containing 100 links of one foot apiece.
    [Show full text]
  • What Size Is an Acre?
    WHAT SIZE IS AN ACRE? Anyone interested in local history or genealogy will at some point come across documents listing areas of land in A., R., and P., the abbreviations for acres, roods and perches, which are the units of land measure. Even with all the E.U. regulations, farms are still being sold in acres rather than hectares. Leases, valuation records and tenant’s lists as well as farms advertised for sale in the newspapers all include land measurements. Before getting into any detail it is useful to know that an acre is made up of 4 roods with 40 perches in a rood. With this little bit of information two or three portions of land can be added together when the need arises. Confusingly a perch is a unit of length as well as of area and it will become clear later that the size of an acre is determined by the length of the perch. The word acre originated from an old English word-aecer, which means an open field. In early times farmers in England defined an acre as the area which they could plough in a day with a team of oxen. Of course this amount varied throughout the country due to different types of land and teams of oxen. An acre can be any shape but it was always more practical to plough a long narrow strip of land where the team would keep going for some distance before getting a breather as they turned at the ends. Ploughmen preferred a long furrow because turning the team was a cumbersome process.
    [Show full text]