266 Obfervatlons on Expellees of Farmings i5fc. July 



proprietors, were aboliflied ; and that a new legion of Nim- 

 rods were created in the farmers and tlieir fons -, and that 

 this noways abated their induftry in farming : — How could 

 the proprietor, who was a fportfman, be prevented from 

 conditioning with his tenant, that he rcferved the game to 

 himfelf, or to fuch other gentlemen as might have leave in 

 writing from him ? This, every landlord would immediate- 

 ly do, and with more reafon than excluding aflignees and 

 fubtenants ; for, though power were granted both to aflign 

 and fubfet, ftill would the principal tenant be liable to pay 

 the rent. With regard to copy-holds^ thefe are analogous 

 to our feu-holdings. Now, as to thefe, the lord of the 

 manor, having been the proprietor, had afluredly a right to 

 grant thefe (which are neither more nor lefs than perpetual 

 leafes) on any conditions he chofe. The fines on the entry 

 of heirs, are tlierefore equal to fines on renewal of leafes 

 to fons of tenants. Millfckes or multures : When the lands 

 are fold with this burden, they fell fo much cheaper : when 

 the lands on which the mill (lands change maflers, a greater 

 value is given on that account. Wafes muft be divided ac- 

 cording to the value of the interefls of thofe who have right. 

 minerals are accounted for, in being claimed by the lord of 

 the manor, from his referved right of property. If, indeed, 

 the Legiflature iliould judge it beneficial, to caufe all or any 

 of thefe claims to be valued at certain rates, and ordain the 

 lord of the manor to fell, and the copy-holder or feuar to 

 buy, it is uncertain if this would give much fatisfaction ; 

 and to give an option to the latter, would not be embraced. 

 Witncfs the few rights of patronage purchafed by the pa- 

 rlihes, in the beginning of this century, on a fimilar option. 

 Neither would a rent-charge, or additional feu-duty, in place 

 of thefe, where neither of the parties inclined to purchafe, 

 pleafe much better. And perifh the pretended reform, that 

 would rob any honeft man of his right, by taking it from hira 

 ■yvithout a compenfation ! * 



To 



* While vvc applaud the fpirit of the above exclamation, we miift remark, 

 f.bat the advancement of the public good renders it neccffary, upon many occa» 

 fion?, \o facrificc the intereft of individuals. If Henry VIH. and the Lords of 

 the Congregation, had afted according to our corrcfpondent's principles, the 

 Reformation would not have been introduced into thefe kingdoms ; nor would 

 the glorious Revolution of 1 688 have taken place. The faift is, that every law 

 i'or improvement, injures fome individual or other; which might be exemplified 

 by innumerable inftanccs of legifliitive interference, was the point in the ieaft de-' 

 grtc quellionaLle. N. 



