11 



in the course of time acquired the force of law. That notwith- 

 standing an attempt by the Crown to disturb these tenures, they 

 were finally established in, or shortly after, the reign of James I., 

 and they have ever since continued to exist with their distinguishmg 

 customs ; and that customary tenure in Westmorland arose m the 

 first instance from the peculiar circumstances of the case, and was 

 ultimately estabUshed by royal decree ; and that notwithstandmg 

 certain peculiarities which they possess in common with copyholds, 

 they are freeholds of the most honourable sort, being held by 

 military service, which was considered superior to all others at the 

 time of its institution. 



I am afraid that I have not endued this subject with all the 

 interest of which it is capable ; but at the same time I cannot but 

 feel that it is a subject which is deeply interesting to all mhabitants 

 of Westmorland ; and that it is one over which it is worth while to 

 pause and consider, at a time when there is every probability that 

 one of the earliest acts of domestic legislation will be the passmg 

 of the bill for the abolition of customary and copyhold tenure. 



