l8o4- ^ JgncuIturaJ InteU'igefice^ 373 



to execute tlic acl which impofcd it, fbew^ in the cicareft manner* 

 that our original ideas concerning its intricacy and confufion were not 

 without foundation. In making afTcfTraentb i\pon farmers, who have 

 occupied for more than ieven years, no rule or principle is laid down, 

 except that the afTefTmcnt nmll be levied according; to rack-rent. But 

 what is nick-rcnt : Wliy, jull fo nuich as the farm will give, when no 

 Ane or gralTum is paid. But then, whether this rent is the fum at which 

 the farm would fct, for one year, for a leafe of twenty years, or for 

 one of a hundred years duration, the a«5l does n(^t fay ; though, no 

 doubt, the value of any farm is mucli regulated bv the length of te- 

 nure under which it is pofTefTed, and by th«' extent of abilities enjoyed 

 by the poHefTor. Here is a fource of difpute and of unequal aficff- 

 m'irnt which ought to be removed, otheru-ife valuations can never be 

 correftly made. We underftand that - a plan was laid hef(n-e hii Ma- 

 jelly's minillers which, in a great mcafure, would have placed the 

 farmer in the like htuation with other claiTcs ; ihat is, his profits 

 would have been affeired by furveyors of 1/ciil and capacity, who were 

 actual farmers, and refided in liis neighbourhood. It does not however 

 appear that any Heps have been taken to operate upon this plan ; though, 

 nnlefs fomething of this nature is refoiled to, the occupiers of land 

 v^nll, lefs or more, continue to be taxed upon a higher ratio than their 

 fellow fubjecls, who enjoy equal gains and profits. If tiie commiffion- 

 ers appointed to execute the aft are men of difcernment, relief, to a 

 certain extent, may be gained ; but fo long as rent is held, in any 

 {hape, to be the criterion of ^neffmeiit, the grievance complained of 

 cannot ])e altogether removed. 



A bufmefs of much importance to all mafters, and involving the in- 

 tereil of farmers in particular, was lately before the Lower Houfe of 

 Parliament, on wliich account alone we notice it here. We allude to 

 the proceedings in the cafe of Mr Morrifon, a farmer in Banffshire, 

 and Garrow his fervant. The queilion fliall be viewed in the abllraft, 

 becaufe it admits of a general application, A very few remarks (hall 

 only be offered. 



When a mailer hires a fervant, the time of the latter, to an extent 

 either afcertained by poiitive paction, or regulated by common practice, 

 is transferred upon certain confiderations ftipulated betwixt the parties. 

 The fervant, if in health, cannot withhold his fervice without breaking his 

 part of the agreement ; nor can he employ his time in other occupa- 

 tions, ur.lefs he receives the function of his i-ealler. If the fervant 

 craves leave of abfence for an hour, a day, <ir a week, the mailer may 

 grant it or not, as he choofes ; but, in fuch cafes, the fervant cannot 

 be the judge, feeing it is the property of another that he is difpofmg 

 of. If the fervant could difpofe of his time according to pleafure, 

 with the like propriety might the mailer contend for liberty to fpend 

 \^nt wages promifed to the fervant, or withhold any part thereof as 

 fancy fuggelled. We afTuredly think that farm fervants are entitled to 

 every encouragement and mark of favour, and in our pradlice have 

 cofiftantly iludied their comfort and welfare ; but, were fervants mad6 

 judges in thefe niatters, it if clear that nothing fliort of anarchy and 



infubordinatioa 



