'f'52 Thoughts on certain Ohftacles to Improvement, May 



eft produce raifed, where the occupiers of land are -in poffefTion 

 of great capital and abilities ; and -finding this opinion corrobo- 

 rated by men whofe judgement and experience cannot be doubt- 

 ed, I will lay it down as 2. pr'mciple, that the average produce of 

 land is in proportion to the capital and abilities employed in its 

 management, or, in other words, to the labour and tnanure which, 

 under a llilful director, are bellowed upon it. Now, let us in- 

 quire whether our prefent fyftems of occupancy, &c. offer as 

 great encouragement to men of capital and abilities, as commerce^ 

 nianufaclures, &c. In thefe employments, capital not only returns 

 a great profit, but enjoys perfe 61: freedom and fecurity under the folc 

 direcliou of its owners, who reap the undivided fruits of their Ikill, 

 induftry and enterprize. That this is not the <:ale with the occupiers 

 of land, is a lamentable truth 5 for in many parts of the illand they 

 are generally tenants at will, and confequently the landlord's depend- 

 tints. Under fuch circumftances, the farmer has not a fair prof^ 

 pe6t of enjoyment ; for he cannot but be under conilant appre- 

 henfions of fuch occurrences as will lead to his removal from his 

 farm, or an advance of rent ; and, where there is not a certain- 

 ty of the tenant's enjoying the fruits of his induftry and expendi- 

 ture, it is abfurd to expe& fubftantial and permanent ameliora- 

 tions. Befides, the enlarged mind of a man of capital and abi- 

 lity revolts at the idea of becoming the vaffal of, or at being put 

 in trammels by any man. Hence, farmers holding under fo in- 

 iecure, and in every refpe61: fo difagreeable a tenure, are, in al- 

 iiioft all cafes, deftitute either of the neceiiary capital or abilities, 

 and generally of both. Leafes for five to nine years are liable to 

 nearly all the objeftions which may be urged againil holding at 

 "the will of the landlord. Where buildings, enclofures, drains, 

 occ. are already in a proper (late, and where the condition of the 

 land enables the tenant to reap immediate profit, leafes for fif-teen or 

 fixteen years, may without much injury prevail -, but v/here houfes 

 and dikes are to be raifed, materials carried by the tenant, impo- 

 verifhed lands enriched, and draining and other expenfive ma*- 

 Tiagement purfued, in order to effect fubfi;antial and permanent 

 improvements *, leafes for a term of twenty-one to tv.enty-five 

 years are indifpenfable. Under fuch a tenure, granted on fuitable 

 conditions, more eTpecially if the farm be large, a proper field is 

 poiTeiTed for the diiplay oi genius, induftry, and enterprize, and 

 for affording to the tenant a bright profpe6t of enjoyment. Here 

 we difcover encouragement for the inveftiture of capital, fimilar 

 to that prefented in trade and manufa6tures j confequently, fuch 

 a fvltem nmit be beneficial to the country. 



In 



. * Such improvements (every man of experience knows) afford ^ut 

 ^ i^'jiv return. 



