INTRODUCTION. XXV 



They would predi6l a ftill greater proportional increafe of 

 large farms, and thereby a ferious injury inftead of a fervice 

 to the country. — No fuch divifion is defigned; no fuch di- 

 vifion could naturally follow: for, befide the general con- 

 vi6lion of the propriety of increafing the number of fmall 

 and middle-fized farms, the numerous unequal interefts to 

 be provided for in the divifion of lands, would neceflarily 

 occafion a very frequent allotment of fmall parcels, in fuch 

 fituations as to require the erection of fmall farm-houfes, 

 offices, and cottages, to render them ufeful. But in addition 

 to this natural refult of a publick meafure, it is to be con- 

 fidered that one prominent feature of that meafure is in- 

 tended to be — zjhong recoinmendation^ that a large addition, 

 to the fmall and middling farms of the country fhall be 

 carefully made. It is not in the power of human forefight 

 to determine the precife proportion of fuch additional fmall 

 farms to the large ones : and the fubje£t muft, from its 

 nature, be left in a confiderable degree to the prefumed good 

 fenfe and publick, fpirit of the perfons to be invefted with 

 the authority; but from that good fenfe and publick fpirit, 

 accompanied by a conftant recolledion of the general wifh, 

 it cannot be reafonably doubted but that the proportions 

 will be greatly altered. Without trying the effeds of this 

 publick plan, it is certain that no new and falutary amelio- 

 ration can be expefted : — under it, the chances of permanent 

 benefit may be relied on with confidence. But fuppofing 

 the vt'orft poffible : fuppofing the leaji beneficial policy, in 

 the article of divifion, to obtain, contrary to all probability, 

 viz. that additional large farms were to be generally adopt- 

 ed — ftill this would not be a reafon why the meafure of a 

 general inclofure bill fhould not be preferred to the prefent 

 flow and cafual progrefs of improvements. A great addition 

 VOL. VIII. b of 



