... The trial of the Fenians in Manchester is just what one expected it to be. You will have seen what a row our men have made in the Reform League. I did everything I could to provoke this demonstration of English workers for Fenianism. Greetings I used to think the separation of Ireland from England impossible. I now think it inevitable, although after the separation there may come federation. The way the English are going on is shown by the agricultural statistics for this year, published a few days ago. In addition the form of the evictions. The Irish Viceroy, Lord Abicorn (this is roughly the name) [Marx refers to Lord Abercorn, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Ed.] has cleared his estate of thousands within recent weeks by compulsory executions. Among the evicted are well-to-do farmers whose improvements and capital investments are confiscated in this fashion! There is no other Enropean country in which foreign rule takes this i direct form of native expropriation. The Russians only confiscate for political reasons; the Prussians in West Prussia buy out.
Letters: Marx-Engels Correspondence 1867