4T« On the Shortnefs of Leafes. J^&v. 



We have Lord Lauderdale's fan£lion, were it wanted, for faying, 

 that the increafed produce pf land, occafioned by the wife appli- 

 cation of labour and capital, is that branch of the property of fo- 

 ciety which appears capable of unlimited increafe j an'd, the 

 more it is augmented, tlie more will the human fpecies abound 

 in opulence and in number: But never will this labour and ca- 

 pital be applied, without a certainty, at leall a profpecl, of re- 

 turn. 



Thank Heaven, the evils complained of exift only in certain 

 didricls of the country. The opulent and enlightentd farmers 

 over the greateft part of the Lowlands of Scotl^^nd, are too wife 

 to rlik their capital, and exert their induflry, on a precarious 

 tenure. It is only in the Highlands, and lefs enlightened parrs, 

 that the grievance prevails to an alarming extent. But as tt is 

 certainly to be wilhed that pernicious pra£lices were eradicated 

 from every part of the country, and that the tide of profperity 

 might flow with an equal current in every dire61:ion, I know of 

 310 means whatever that could contribute fo generally to this de- 

 ilreable purpofe, as that of granting to the cultivators of the 

 }and a certainty of their pofTefTions. No matter whether thefe 

 polTeflions are of larger or fmaller dimenfions, of better quality, 

 or of worfe ; flill let the polTelFors have a certainty of poflcihon. 

 The extent of farms is a different matter, which is not at pre- 

 ie»it taken into confideration. 



In tracing back the hiftory of Scotllh agriculture for a centu- 

 ry pall, we fee that all the moft eminent and fuccefsful improv- 

 ers gave leafes of their lands as foon as improved ; as may be in- 

 Itanced in the cafes of Mr Cockburn of Ormifton, Lord Finla- 

 ter, Lord Strathmore, and others. At a later period, Mr F urlie 

 of Fairlie, on his own ellate, and on the eftates of the E irl of 

 )'glintoun, and all the great improvers of the prefent day, have 

 followed the fame plan. Wherever leafes of reafonable endurance 

 prevail, we fee the tenants wealthy, indultrious and thriving j 

 and wherever they are withheld, we fee the tenants poor, indolent 

 and fliationary. We have only to call our eye ovt-r the flafiilical 

 accounts of Scotland, and the county furveys both in England 

 and Scotland, to fee that want of leafes, or very Ihort lcafet», 

 are uniformly Hated among the great bars to improvement. 



Gladly would I fuppofe, that the evil of which I compl.un 

 exiils not to a wide extent ; but of its aftual exillence I am afraid 

 there is not room to doubt. I have fometimes endeavoured to 

 -^imufe myfelf with dcvifing plnuilble reafons, that could induce 

 the propriet(^rs of land to decline giving leafes to their tenants. 

 1 have thought of the idea cf dependency, in keeping a large bo- 

 r,y of people more in fubje(l:^ion to their will j but furcly this mo- 

 tive 



