154 Thoughts on ciytaln Ohjlacles to Improvement, May 



hndlords ; fo that if a tenant doubles the value of his farm, by 

 great and expenfive improvements during the firil ten or twelve 

 years of a 2 1 years leafe, and fhould then difcover the greateft 

 and mod ftriking advantages in relinquifliing his agricultural, and 

 embracing other purfuits, cither he muft obtain the landlord's 

 permiflion to fubfet ; fubmit to the unprofitable management of 

 an overfeer at, perhaps, a great dillance *, facrificc his whole pro- 

 perty in the leafe, or affign his right therein to the landlord, ere 

 he can engage in the other purfuit. If, infte:.id of engaging in 

 more lucrative concerns, wc fuppofe the demife of the tenant to 

 take place at the expiration of the above ten or twelve years, and 

 that his defcendants or other heirs are all engaged in more profit- 

 able and jcongenial concerns than thofe of agriculture, either his 

 executor (if he makes a will) or his adminiilrator (if he dies in- 

 teftate), muft commence agriculturilt, obtain the landlord's con- 

 fent to alienate, or be fubjecQ; to the difadvantagcs already men- 

 tioned. In fuch cafes, the leaft of two evils is chofen ; and if 

 the proprietor of the land perfeveres in refufing his confent to 

 fubfetting, the leafe is difpofed of to him at, generally, about 

 one third or one half of its real value, and, in many cafes, for 

 little or nothing. 



Thefe circumftances operate againft ameliorations in two v/ays ; 

 firft, by deterring tenants, in many cafes, from engaging in very 

 fubftantial and expenfive improvements, under an idea that they 

 may, eventuallyy become of little or no utility to their heirs, or 

 ei'-en to themfelves ; and, fecondly, by preventing the employment 

 of greater capital and abilities, which would, under more favour- 

 able regulations, be attra£lcd from trade, and devoted to rural 

 concerns. It can make no difference, of confequenc€; to the land- 

 lord, whether he receives his rent from the perlbn that originally 

 took the farm, or from a tenant to whom it is fubfet \ his right 

 to diftraiii is in both cafes the fame ; the covenants of the leafe, 

 aided by the intereft of the tenant, prevent deterioration ; and 

 when the afiignment is made foon after the commencement of the 

 leafe, the new, as well as the original, occupier, will be excited, 

 by intereft, to improvements. — In ancient times, when tenants 

 were bound to accompany their landlords to the field of battle, 

 (when claufes agviinft fubfetting originated), a ftrong and good 

 foldier, though but an indifferent cultivator, might be deemed 

 the moft defirable tenant ; but in modern times, it appears im- 

 material whether the perfon of the occupier be ftrong or weak, 

 well made or deformed, provided his capital and abilities are equal 

 to the judicious management of his farm •, and it is clear, that 

 V/'hen the landlord prevents the introdutlion of a good farmer — 



perhaps 



