554 HISTORY 



which they were owing often selling for no more tiian 3d. or 5d. per acre.°°* 

 On many of these vacant lands not more than one acre in ten was fit for cul- 

 tivation.*"' It is not to be wondered at that the payment of quit rents was 

 difficult to secure. The practice of remitting to delinquents also had gone so 

 far that it would seem that arrears were allowed to accumulate, the holders 

 anticipating that there would eventually be another remission of all they 

 owed. In many instances the arrears amounted to more than the value of 

 the land. If pressed for payment, the holders of such lands would prefer to 

 surrender their titles rather than undertake to pay arrears in full. In 1831 

 the total arrears amounted to nearly £5000.""' A remission was petitioned 

 for/*" but was not secured until 1833.™' In 1833 was begun a more diligent 

 application of the regulations of these lioldings. Instructions were sent 

 from home for a more strict collection of rents together with arrears due 

 from June, 1830, up to which time they had been remitted. The lands were 

 not dear enough to cause all holders to respond to the demands of the col- 

 lector. By 1835 the arrears were so great that over 100,000 acres of land 

 from these holdings had reverted to the Crown.""'" A better collection was 

 secured from this time forward. Xo more lands were granted under this 

 tenure, and a more determined policy was followed as to those already held 

 under it. 



Failure of Close Settlements. 



While the apprenticeship system was in operation, it was determined to 

 settle the negroes on vacant lands whenever they were able to make pur- 

 chases. Hitherto, alienation of land in fee simple had been very limited in 

 amount. The demand for such possession must have been very small, since 

 so much land could be obtained under the quit rent tenure, payments on 

 which were badly collected.""" The abolition of slavery and the creation 

 of new freemen, who were possible purchasers of land, greatly enhanced its 

 value. Competition in some of the new settlements was very strong.""' Meas- 

 ures were adopted wliieli were calculated to promote the appropriation of land 



'^Loc. cit. 



""U. v., 1831, p. 101. 



"°^ Smyth's Ds., No. 82. 



°°=H. v., 1831, pp. 101-2. 



'^ H. v., 1825, p. 92. 



""H. v., 1835, pp. 92-94. 



"•"' Colebrooke to Aberdeen, No. 27. 



«" Loc. cit.. No. 27. 



