I.804* Thoughts on ceriabi Ohflacles to Iinprovcmcnf^ 153 



In fupport of this fyflem, we may appeal to what is more con- 

 vincing than arguments — to faBs. Let any impartial man of 

 judgement compare the capital, abilities and produce of thoic 

 diftridls which are divided into fmall farms, or held by tenants at 

 will, or under {liort leafes, with thofe of diftricl:s in which large 

 farms and long leafes prevail, and he will fnul a vafl fuperiority 

 in the latter. Indeed, Sir, nothing is better known, by attentive 

 agriculturiils, than that all our great improvements in huibandrv 

 have been difcovered, and, beyond all comparifon, moft benefi- 

 cially praclifed, both for the occupiers and tiie public, in the lat- 

 ter diilricls. It is in thefe, not only that the greatelt produce is 

 laifed, but that the greateit proportion of that produce can be 

 ipared for the market % which circumllance alone enables the 

 farmer to afford more rent : And, that the greatell advance upoa 

 farms has taken place, where they are large, and held under the 

 fecurity of long leafes, is fupported by experience in every part 

 of the country. It has, however, been advanced againll large 

 farms, that they enhance the price of provifions, and ieiTen the 

 number of inhabitants. In Mr Secretary Young's pamphlet on 

 the late fcarcity, and feveral other publications, fatisfadtory re- 

 futations of the former dodlrine may be found -, and when wc 

 advert to the large capital employed, the fuperior management 

 purfued, and the great number of labourers neccflarily emplov- 

 ed on thefe farms, and that on them married fervants with large 

 fam,ilies, cows, &c. are preferred, whereas the occupiers of 

 fmall farms not only do not improve in the fame de^'veej h\it 

 employ unmarried fervants, we will readily perceive ciiac large 

 farms are favourable to population. I do not, however, con- 

 tend for the great confolidation of farms, or aflort that they 

 may not become too large. What I contend for is, that, at 

 prefent, they are generally much too fmall, and held under too 

 difagreeable a tenure, to attract: capital and abilities from cotn- 

 merce. Here I beg to fay, that I entertain no ideas holtile io 

 trade and manufaclures. Their importance I cheerfully concede. 

 But is it not inferior to that of agriculture.'* And until ths 

 latter receives more attention and encouragement, and till our 

 population is more full, can they be faid to reil on that folid 

 and permanent foundation they well deferve ? 



If a man concerned in commercial and other employments, 

 choofes to relinquifh thefe purfuits and inveil his capital in agri- 

 culture, no legal impediments Hand in his way \ — he mav do fo 

 with perfe61: facility. But when we confider that, in almoll all 

 cafes, leafes are granted to executors and adm'inljlrators^ and con- 

 tain claufes againft fubfetting, we will fee that the occupiers of 

 tod cannot accompliih fuch a change without the confent of their 



landlords ; 



