l8o3» Revieic of Peebles Survey. 213 



fchemes of pvojccSlors. The Hlent operation of the writings of the 

 profound and ingtnious Dodlor Adam Smith, fcems to have given a 

 check 10 the latcrmcduhng ipirit oi: regulation.* 



If improvements can only go forward when the tenant is fe- 

 cnred by a leate, it becomes an important object to invefiigate 

 the nature and efl'ed: of this mode of tenure. Here we muft re- 

 mark, that the laws of Scotland do not feem to recognize the te- 

 nant's right in fuch an extenfive way as might at firft fight be 

 imagined, and the impolicy of our legal fyflem, in this refpeft, 

 is ably defcribed. We forbear, however, to examine the argu- 

 ments iifed by our author, as we mean to extratt them at length, 

 upon a future occafion. 



Mr F. thinks, that extending the right of franchife to the te- 

 nantry of Scotland would not prove beneEcial to them, and feems 

 to be of opinion, that the Englifti tenants, who polTels that right, 

 are thereby reduced to the moft abjeft ftate of fervility. If 

 leafes were to be withheld, we cheerfully agree that the right of 

 franchife would be of no advantage. 



Note, (G.) p. 330. contains a mod ingenious defence of the 

 unprodudlive claiVes of mankind, viz. the landed and monied 

 interefls, whofe exiilence is declared to be iiidifpenfably neceflavj 

 to the formation and exiftence of the clafs that is politively in- 

 duftrious. On this fubjeft much may be faid on both fides, and 

 the allirmative of our author's propofition depends greatly upon 

 the manners and life of the anprodu6live clafles. They may do 

 much good to be fure, and may alfo do much harm. They cer- 

 tainly give employment to many people who mightotherwileftarve; 

 but is not this connefted with Mandeville's celebrated maxim, 

 thut private vices become public benefits ! Mendicant idlers, who 

 contribute nothing to the ufe or ornament of fociety, in our au- 

 thor's opinion, are abfolutely good for no valuable purpofe; and 

 in this ientimcnt, we perfeftly concur. Such form a part of what 

 is iifually called a mifchievous population, and, unleis kept from 

 a principle of charity, ought not to be tolerated. 



The note upon foreftalling and engroffing has already been In- 

 ferted in our Magazine, vol. 2. p. 19. and it is with pleafure we no- 

 tice, that it contains the mofl fterling and liberal fentiments. We 

 hope, however, that it will be long before fuch an antidote to po- 

 pular delufion is again required ; though, if neceifary, the Itrong- 

 eit reafons in favour of a free trade in corn, may at any time be 

 gathered from this article. 



Upon all the fabjechs mentioned, and indeed over the greateft 

 part of the work, Mr F. ipeaks like a man totally free of pre- 

 3^udice, and with the feelings of an acute and enlightened philo- 

 I'ppher. We are not fure, however, if he is not influenced a little 



b^ 



